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Three men 'helped 7 July bombers' Three men 'helped 7 July bombers'
(about 2 hours later)
Three men helped the 7 July suicide bombers to find potential targets in London, a court has heard.Three men helped the 7 July suicide bombers to find potential targets in London, a court has heard.
Waheed Ali, Sadeer Saleem and Mohammed Shakil scouted for possible locations, including the Natural History Museum and the London Eye, jurors were told. Waheed Ali, Sadeer Saleem and Mohammed Shakil scouted for possible locations, and visited the Natural History Museum and the London Eye, jurors were told.
The three Leeds men were not directly responsible for the 2005 attacks, but shared the bombers' "objectives", said prosecutors at Kingston Crown Court.The three Leeds men were not directly responsible for the 2005 attacks, but shared the bombers' "objectives", said prosecutors at Kingston Crown Court.
All three men deny conspiracy to cause an explosion between 2004 and 2005.All three men deny conspiracy to cause an explosion between 2004 and 2005.
Mr Ali, 24, Mr Saleem, 27, and Mr Shakil, 31, are accused of assisting Mohammed Saddique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Jermain Lindsay and Hasib Hussain in what prosecutors say was a "reconnaissance" mission for the 2005 attacks.Mr Ali, 24, Mr Saleem, 27, and Mr Shakil, 31, are accused of assisting Mohammed Saddique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Jermain Lindsay and Hasib Hussain in what prosecutors say was a "reconnaissance" mission for the 2005 attacks.
Khan, Tanweer, Lindsay and Hussain killed 52 people in four separate suicide bombings on London's transport network on 7 July that year.Khan, Tanweer, Lindsay and Hussain killed 52 people in four separate suicide bombings on London's transport network on 7 July that year.
Jurors were shown never-before-seen CCTV footage of those attacks, tracking their movements from the moment the four bombers met in Luton, to the moment they detonated their bombs. Jurors were shown never-before-seen CCTV footage of those attacks, tracking the four bombers' movements from the moment they met in Luton, to the moment they detonated their bombs.
It is the case that the defendants associated with and shared the beliefs and objectives of the London bombers Neil Flewitt QCIt is the case that the defendants associated with and shared the beliefs and objectives of the London bombers Neil Flewitt QC
Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, said the defendants were not "directly involved in the London bombings" in the sense that they were "responsible for making or transporting the bombs".Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, said the defendants were not "directly involved in the London bombings" in the sense that they were "responsible for making or transporting the bombs".
But they "shared the beliefs and objectives of the London bombers - and so were willing to assist them in one particular and important aspect of their preparation for the London bombings", he said.But they "shared the beliefs and objectives of the London bombers - and so were willing to assist them in one particular and important aspect of their preparation for the London bombings", he said.
The prosecution claims between 16 and 17 December 2004, the three defendants travelled from Leeds to London along with Hussain, one of the four bombers. The prosecution claims that seven months before the attacks, between 16 and 17 December 2004, the three defendants travelled from Leeds to London along with Hussain, one of the four bombers.
Over the course of two days the men "conducted a reconnaissance of potential targets" and met another of the bombers, Lindsay, the court was told.Over the course of two days the men "conducted a reconnaissance of potential targets" and met another of the bombers, Lindsay, the court was told.
TargetsTargets
The alleged December reconnaissance included various locations on the London Underground, the Natural History Museum, the London Eye and the London Aquarium. Mr Flewitt told the court that all the locations scouted by the three accused "bore a striking similarity" to the final targets chosen by the bombers.
Mr Flewitt told the court that all the locations scouted "bore a striking similarity" to the final targets chosen by the bombers. He said the defence would argue that the men visited various London locations and tourist attractions, including the London Underground, the Natural History Museum, the London Eye and the London Aquarium, for entirely innocent reasons.
Although the men admit visiting London and knowing the bombers, they argue the trip was purely social, including a visit to Mr Ali's sister. The trio admit going on the trip to the capital and knowing the bombers, but argue it was purely social and that it included a visit to Mr Ali's sister.
The 7 July bombers killed 52 people in attacks on London's transportThe 7 July bombers killed 52 people in attacks on London's transport
"Although the defendants all accept that they knew the London bombers, it is their case that their friendship was entirely innocent and that they know nothing of and took no part in their plan to cause explosions in the UK," said Mr Flewitt."Although the defendants all accept that they knew the London bombers, it is their case that their friendship was entirely innocent and that they know nothing of and took no part in their plan to cause explosions in the UK," said Mr Flewitt.
The prosecution went on to show the jury CCTV footage of the events of 7 July 2005, the first time the material had been seen other than by police and security services.The prosecution went on to show the jury CCTV footage of the events of 7 July 2005, the first time the material had been seen other than by police and security services.
The footage captured the four bombers assembling in the early hours of the morning and heading to Luton railway station.The footage captured the four bombers assembling in the early hours of the morning and heading to Luton railway station.
In the grainy CCTV images, time-stamped at 0716, the men could be seen opening the boot of a car in the main station car park, pulling on the rucksacks containing their bombs and walking to a platform to take a commuter train to London.In the grainy CCTV images, time-stamped at 0716, the men could be seen opening the boot of a car in the main station car park, pulling on the rucksacks containing their bombs and walking to a platform to take a commuter train to London.
The CCTV footage continued as the men disembarked at Kings Cross Thameslink, before getting on the London Underground to head towards their targets.The CCTV footage continued as the men disembarked at Kings Cross Thameslink, before getting on the London Underground to head towards their targets.
Jurors were then shown images of the damage caused by Khan's bomb, which ripped through the carriage of a westbound Circle Line train shortly after it left Edgware Road, killing him and six other passengers.Jurors were then shown images of the damage caused by Khan's bomb, which ripped through the carriage of a westbound Circle Line train shortly after it left Edgware Road, killing him and six other passengers.
'Battery purchase''Battery purchase'
CCTV footage also showed a Circle Line train leaving Liverpool Street station and, as Tanweer detonated his device, smoke filling the platform leaving commuters running for cover. He killed himself and seven other people.CCTV footage also showed a Circle Line train leaving Liverpool Street station and, as Tanweer detonated his device, smoke filling the platform leaving commuters running for cover. He killed himself and seven other people.
Stills of the remains of the Piccadilly Line train, after the third bomber, Lindsay, exploded his device killing another 26 passengers, were also shown.Stills of the remains of the Piccadilly Line train, after the third bomber, Lindsay, exploded his device killing another 26 passengers, were also shown.
CCTV footage also captured bus bomber Hussain, who it is claimed had problems with his rucksack bomb, at a WH Smith newsagents where it is believed he bought a new battery.CCTV footage also captured bus bomber Hussain, who it is claimed had problems with his rucksack bomb, at a WH Smith newsagents where it is believed he bought a new battery.
He went on to detonate his rucksack shortly before 10am on the upper deck of a number 30 bus in Tavistock Square, killing him and 13 other people.He went on to detonate his rucksack shortly before 10am on the upper deck of a number 30 bus in Tavistock Square, killing him and 13 other people.
The court was also told extremist material was found at the homes of all three men.The court was also told extremist material was found at the homes of all three men.
In addition, items, including mobile phone numbers and fingerprints, found at the houses of the four 7/7 bombers linked the three defendants to the plotters, the prosecution said, with Mr Ali and 7 July ringleader Khan being particularly friendly.
The trial is expected to last between three and four months.The trial is expected to last between three and four months.