Radical Islamists admit to London terror plot

Four radical Islamists have admitted plotting a major pre-Christmas terror attack on the London Stock Exchange.

The al Qaida-inspired fundamentalist group had planned to send five mail bombs to various targets over the 2010 festive period and discussed launching a “Mumbai-style” atrocity.

A target list found at one of the defendant’s homes listed the names and addresses of London Mayor Boris Johnson, two rabbis, the American Embassy and the Stock Exchange.

A total of nine men admitted to various terror offences at Woolwich Crown Court and will be sentenced next week.

“Lynchpin” Mohammed Chowdhury, 21, and his London accomplice Shah Rahman, 28, were followed by undercover detectives on Nov 28, 2010, observing Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and the Palace of Westminster.

The conspiracy also involved three defendants from Cardiff and four from Stoke.

The terrorists met through their membership of various hardcore Islamic groups and met in parks to make surveillance difficult.

The nine British nationals were due to stand trial but changed their pleas at the last minute.

Chowdhury, of Stanliff House, Tower Hamlets, and Rahman, 28, of St Bernard’s Road, Newham, admitted preparing for acts of terrorism by planning to plant an improvised explosive device (IED) in the toilets of the London Stock Exchange.

They admitted the crime after the judge, Mr Justice Wilkie, indicated Chowdhury would receive 18 and a half years and Rahman 17 years.

Brothers Gurukanth Desai, 30, of Albert Street, Cardiff, and Abdul Miah, 25, of Ninian Park Road, Cardiff, also admitted the same count.

Usman Khan, 20, of Persia Walk, Mohammed Shahjahan 27, of Burmarsh Walk, and Nazam Hussain, 26, of Grove Street, all Stoke, admitted engaging in the preparation of terrorism by attending meetings.

Omar Latif, 28, of Neville Street, Cardiff, admitted attending the meetings with the intention of assisting others to prepare or commit acts of terrorism.

The fourth Stoke defendant, Mohibur Rahman, admitted possessing an article for a terrorist purpose.

The 27-year-old, of North Road, admitted being in possession of two editions of the al Qaida magazine Inspire.

The nine were not members of al Qaida but were inspired by the terror network.

Though no firm dates were set and no bombs created, the defendants had the wherewithal to do it, it was alleged.