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Trio 'helped plan London bombing' Trio 'helped plan London bombing'
(about 3 hours later)
Three men undertook a reconnaissance mission to help the 7 July bombers prepare for their attack on London's transport system, a court has heard.Three men undertook a reconnaissance mission to help the 7 July bombers prepare for their attack on London's transport system, a court has heard.
Waheed Ali, 25, Sadeer Saleem, 28, and Mohammed Shakil, 32, are said to have spent two days in the capital.Waheed Ali, 25, Sadeer Saleem, 28, and Mohammed Shakil, 32, are said to have spent two days in the capital.
It was an "important first step" in the plot to detonate the bombs which killed 52 people, the prosecution alleges.It was an "important first step" in the plot to detonate the bombs which killed 52 people, the prosecution alleges.
The trio, from Leeds, deny conspiring with the bombers to cause explosions between November 2004 and July 2005.The trio, from Leeds, deny conspiring with the bombers to cause explosions between November 2004 and July 2005.
Ali and Shakil also deny conspiracy to attend a place used for terrorist training. It is alleged they were planning a trip to a camp in Pakistan when police arrested them in March 2007. Mr Ali and Mr Shakil also deny conspiracy to attend a place used for terrorist training. It is alleged they were planning a trip to a camp in Pakistan when police arrested them in March 2007.
Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Germaine Lindsay and Hasib Hussain left 52 dead and hundreds more hurt when they set off bombs on the capital's transport network.Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Germaine Lindsay and Hasib Hussain left 52 dead and hundreds more hurt when they set off bombs on the capital's transport network.
Neil Flewitt QC told a jury at Kingston Crown Court that there was no dispute that Khan, Tanweer, Lindsay and Hussain were responsible for the "appalling act of terrorism" on 7 July 2005. The London visit was an important first step in what was - by then - a settled plan to cause explosions in the UK Neil Flewitt QCProsecutorNeil Flewitt QC told a jury at Kingston Crown Court that there was no dispute that Khan, Tanweer, Lindsay and Hussain were responsible for the "appalling act of terrorism" on 7 July 2005. The London visit was an important first step in what was - by then - a settled plan to cause explosions in the UK Neil Flewitt QCProsecutor
He said: "It is not the prosecution case that the defendants were directly involved in the London bombings, in the sense that they were responsible for making or transporting the bombs that were detonated with such catastrophic consequences.He said: "It is not the prosecution case that the defendants were directly involved in the London bombings, in the sense that they were responsible for making or transporting the bombs that were detonated with such catastrophic consequences.
"However, it is the prosecution case that the defendants associated with and 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.""However, it is the prosecution case that the defendants associated with and 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."
Mr Flewitt told the court that on 16 December 2004, the defendants travelled from Leeds with one of the bombers, Hussain, to London.Mr Flewitt told the court that on 16 December 2004, the defendants travelled from Leeds with one of the bombers, Hussain, to London.
Once there, they also met Lindsay. Over a period of two days they conducted a reconnaissance of potential targets.Once there, they also met Lindsay. Over a period of two days they conducted a reconnaissance of potential targets.
Tourist attractions they visited included the Natural History Museum, London Eye and the London Aquarium.Tourist attractions they visited included the Natural History Museum, London Eye and the London Aquarium.
Mr Flewitt said the prosecution was not alleging that - at the time of that trip - the conspirators had made a final decision about the method of attack, its targets or timing.Mr Flewitt said the prosecution was not alleging that - at the time of that trip - the conspirators had made a final decision about the method of attack, its targets or timing.
But he said: "The London visit was an important first step in what was, by then, a settled plan to cause explosions in the UK."But he said: "The London visit was an important first step in what was, by then, a settled plan to cause explosions in the UK."
'Clear correlation''Clear correlation'
Mr Flewitt told the court that there was a "clear correlation" between the locations visited on 16 and 17 December, those visited by Khan, Tanweer and Lindsay during another "hostile" reconnaissance of possible targets two weeks before the attacks and the eventual bombing locations. Mr Flewitt told the court that there was a "clear correlation" between the locations visited on 16 and 17 December, those visited by Mr Khan, Mr Tanweer and Mr Lindsay during another "hostile" reconnaissance of possible targets two weeks before the attacks and the eventual bombing locations.
He told the jury that all three defendants accepted they had made the trip but denied they had anything to do with the bombings.He told the jury that all three defendants accepted they had made the trip but denied they had anything to do with the bombings.
He added: "Rather it is their case that the purpose of their journey was to enable Waheed Ali to visit his sister in east London."He added: "Rather it is their case that the purpose of their journey was to enable Waheed Ali to visit his sister in east London."
Mr Saleem and Mr Shakil would claim they visited the tourist attractions for purely social reasons, Mr Flewitt said.Mr Saleem and Mr Shakil would claim they visited the tourist attractions for purely social reasons, Mr Flewitt said.
The defendants accept they knew the bombers but claim their friendship was innocent and that they knew nothing of the bomb plot, he added.The defendants accept they knew the bombers but claim their friendship was innocent and that they knew nothing of the bomb plot, he added.
Computer evidence
The court was told that on 22 March last year the three defendants were arrested and various addresses searched during which police recovered "a variety of material that provided a valuable insight into their attitudes and beliefs".
Mr Flewitt said a computer was seized from Mr Ali which he had regularly used to search for websites involving the Taleban, Osama Bin Laden and jihad.
Similar material was found on the computers of both Mr Saleem and Mr Shakil.
The jury also heard that a letter was found at Mr Saleem's address in which he talked about marriage and said he wanted loads of children with the "mujahidas" (people to fight jihad) because the "filthy kafir (unbelievers) have got big plans against the Muslims..."
Links to bombers
Material found when the addresses of the four London bombers were searched also links the seven men, the jury was told.
A fingerprint from Mr Shakil was found on the back of one of a pack of photographs of Mohammed Siddique Khan in scuba diving gear.
Fingerprints from Mr Ali and the Tavistock Square bomber Hasib Hussain were found on a samurai sword also found in Mr Khan's Dewsbury home, the court heard.
In the Leeds home of Mr Tanweer a poster depicting a flag, labelled Al-Jihad, and bearing the slogan, "Victory, Honour, Power" was found, the jury was told. The poster bore Mr Ali's fingerprints.
The jury were also told that in the remains of Mr Khan's mobile telephone, recovered from the debris at Edgware Road, were numbers attributable to both Mr Shakil, saved as "SHAXMOB" and Mr Saleem, saved as "Sads".
At Mr Saleem's house police found a greetings card addressed to "Bro Saleem and family", wishing him a happy marriage.
The card was signed not only by Mr Ali but also by "Bro Sidique", who the prosecution says was Mr Khan and "Shazhad", who the prosecution say was Mr Tanweer.
Mr Flewitt said it was an indication of the "closeness of the group" but when the defendants were interviewed following 7 July they "quite deliberately lied" to police to distance themselves from the bombers.