July 21 London bombers jailed for at least 21 years
All four of London's July 21 bombers were given life sentences today and will serve a minimum of 40 years.
The ringleader of the failed July 21 suicide bombings Muktar Said Ibrahim, sidekick Yassin Omar – who first dreamt up the plot – and fellow bomb plotters Ramzi Mohammed and Hussain Osman were jailed by Mr Justice Fulford QC at Woolwich Crown Court, in south east London.
The judge told the four men that in his view their plan was not an isolated scheme.
He said that the July 7 and July 21 bombers were all terror “cells” under the control of al-Qaida.
Mr Justice Fulford added: "What happened on July 7 in 2005 is of considerable relevance to this sentencing.
“I have no doubt that they were both part of an al Qaida-inspired and controlled sequence of attacks.”
The judge said none of the men could be considered for release for 40 years.
“This was a viable, indeed a very nearly successful, attempt at mass murder,” he said.
“It was long in the planning and came soon after July 7 – it was designed for maximum impact.”
The Crown Prosecution Service said the terrorists had planned a co-ordinated attack designed to cause death and destruction on the London transport system.
Susan Hemming, Head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said: “Exactly two weeks after the terrorist attacks on 7/7 these men targeted the same transport system and tried to cause the same level of death and destruction.
“They knew what would happen; they had seen the devastation produced by 7/7 and the fact that they continued with their plan shows their brutal intent.”
