Jury selection begins for London bomb plot trial

THE trial process of six men accused of plotting to murder people in the July 21 alleged attempted bombings began yesterday.

More than 100 potential jurors were brought before Mr Justice Fulford at Woolwich Crown Court in east London.

The six men are accused of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life.

The judge told the members of the jury panel: “The defendants in this case are to be tried on an indictment that alleges involvement in terrorism, particularly relating to the events in London on July 21, 2005.”

He said the case could last as long as four months.

The judge continued: “This trial comes after the incident that occurred generally in London in July of 2005.

“It comes after all the shock, the confusion and the press reporting that those events caused, most particularly the death and the injuries of those who were involved in the incidents on July 7.”

Muktar Said Ibrahim, Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, Hussain Osman, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Adel Yahya are standing trial at Woolwich next week.

The judge gave the jury panel members a number of questions to consider before their return to court today.

The prosecution case is expected to be opened on Monday morning.