Terror plot leaders jailed

A total of eleven men from Birmingham have been sentenced over a terror plot which could have been more devastating than the July 7 attacks:

• Irfan Naseer handed a life sentence and must serve at least 18 years before he can be considered for parole.
• Irfan Khalid, sentenced to 18 years, to serve a min of 12 years.
• Ashik Ali, receives 15 year sentence, to serve min of 10 years.

• Rahin Ahmed received 12 year sentence to serve min of six.
• Bahader Ali is sentenced to six years imprisonment, to serve a minimum of three years.
• Mohammed Rizwan, receives four years, to serve min of two.

• Mujahid Husssain receives four years imprisonment, to serve a minimum of two.
• Shahid Khan, Khobaib Hussain, Ishaaq Hussain and Naweed Ali receive 40 months, to serve minimum of 20 months.

Three men were sentenced today, after being found guilty of a terror plot to detonate up to eight suicide bombs in the UK.

Irfan Naseer was handed a life sentence and must serve at least 18 years before he can be considered for parole when he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court.

Together with Naseer, the cell was led by his "inseparable" friend Irfan Khalid, 28, and Ashik Ali, also 28. Khalid boasted that the attack was "another 9/11".

Sentencing him to an extended term of 23 years in prison and to serve 12 years before he can be released on licence, Mr Justice Henriques said he took into account that he had been found to be in the bottom 2%-5% in terms of cognitive ability.

Partially-sighted Ali, wearing a white robe, was handed an extended sentence of 20 years in prison and will serve a minimum of 10 years before he can be considered for parole.

The judge said he did not accept the defendant's portrayal of himself as the group's "tea boy or runner for others".

Naseer was found guilty of five counts of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, Khalid of four, and Ali of three, all between Christmas Day 2010 and September 19 2011.

Read more: Juliet Bremner on the trio who hoped to cause worst atrocity on British soil

Terror plot ringleader Irfan Naseer, 31, "is a skilful bomb-maker", Mr Justice Henriques has said.

Mr Justice Henriques added: "Clearly nothing was going to stop you, short of intervention of the authorities."

"Many deaths were planned by a determined team of individuals who were fully radicalised and you, Naseer, were their leader.

"No lack of assets, skill or manpower was going to stop you."

Irfan Naseer, 31, who was sentenced to life today over a terror plot in Birmingham, had the blessing of al Qaida, Mr Justice Henriques has said.

Turning to Naseer, who appeared to mutter under his breath during the sentencing hearing, the judge said: "Your plot had the blessing of al Qaida and you intended to further the aims of al Qaida."

A total of eleven men from Birmingham are being sentenced today over a terror plot which could have been more devastating than the July 7 attacks.

Irfan Naseer, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali were found guilty of a total of twelve terrorism charges last month.

Four other men were convicted of terrorism offences.

A further four men pleaded guilty after travelling to Pakistan for terrorism training.

Irfan Naseer, 31, must take sole responsibility for "sending four young men to Pakistan for terrorism training", Mr Justice Henriques told London's Woolwich Crown Court.

The judge said: "Irfan Naseer was the leader, driving force and man in charge and he alone must take responsibility for sending four young men to Pakistan for terrorism training."

The ringleader of a terror plot which could have been more devastating than the July 7 attacks was jailed for life today.

The ringleader of a terror plot which could have been more devastating than the July 7 attacks has been jailed for life.

Irfan Naseer has been handed a life sentence and must serve at least 18 years before he can be considered for parole when he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court.

• Read more: Juliet Bremner on the trio who hoped to cause worst atrocity on British soil