Radical Islamists plead guilty to planning London attacks

Feb 1, 2012, 12:14 GMT

London - Four British Muslims have pleaded guilty to planning a major terrorist attack on key London landmarks in 2010 which was, however, foiled by the police and security agencies, a court in London heard Wednesday.

The four men, all born in Britain, were alleged to have been followers of Anwar Al-Awlaki, the radical extremist killed in a US drone attack in Yemen in September, 2011.

Their plan to detonate a bomb at the London Stock Exchange (LSE), as well as targeting key landmarks such as Big Ben and the London Eye ferris wheel, was foiled by the police and security services who had kept them under close observation.

Mohammed Chowdhury, Shah Rahman, Gurukanth Desai and Abdul Miah pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism.

They were arrested in London and in Cardiff, the capital of the region of Wales, in December, 2010, and made their admissions prior to standing trial at Woolwich Crown Court in London.

Five other men have pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the plot. All nine are due to be sentenced next week.

A hand-written target list found at Chowdhury's home listed the names and addresses of London Mayor Boris Johnson, two rabbis, the US embassy and the Stock Exchange, the court heard.

The conspiracy was stopped by undercover anti-terror police before firm dates could be set for attacks. No bombs were actually ever made, the court heard.