London bomb plotters launch appeal

Four men jailed for life for trying to bomb London's transport system in 2005 have launched an appeal.

Four men jailed for life for trying to bomb London's transport system in 2005 have launched an appeal.

The four were convicted last year of a plan to replicate the London suicide bombings of July 7th, 2005, which killed 52 commuters just two weeks earlier.

They are claiming their bomb plot was a hoax designed to send a political statement.

The men are serving at least 40 years in jail for trying to detonate hydrogen peroxide-based bombs on three underground trains and at a bus station. Although the detonators on their makeshift bombs fired, the main charges failed to explode and no one was killed in the July 21st, 2005 attempts.

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Muktah Said Ibrahim, Yassin Hassan Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Hussain Osman were found guilty of conspiracy to murder after a trial lasting almost six months. They are appealing against their conviction.

A fifth man, Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause explosions. He is only seeking to appeal against his 33-year-sentence.

The group appeared via video link at London's Appeal Court yesterday.

Counsel for Ibrahim - the plot's alleged ringleader - told the court the failed bombings were designed to send a political message. "The devices were made to look realistic but included flaws to ensure the main charge would not detonate," he said.