Four radical islamists admit to plotting to bomb the London Stock Exchange as part of a campaign of al Qaeda-inspired attacks London in the run-up to Christmas 2010.
The conspiracy included plans to post bombs to the United States Embassy and the home of London Mayor Boris Johnson. Police foiled the plot at an early stage before firm dates were agreed or explosive devices assembled.
The plan was to cause “terror, economic harm and disruption” rather than injury, prosecutor Andrew Edis told Woolwich Crown Court. However, “their chosen method meant there was a risk people would be maimed or killed,” he said.
It is understood that the men admitted the offences following a hearing where defendants can hear from the judge what sentence they may get if they plead guilty before a trial starts.
The defendants, all British nationals with Bangladeshi or Pakistani backgrounds, had been inspired by al-Qaeda and the late radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, Mr Edis said.
Al-Awlaki, a US citizen linked to al-Qaeda‘s Yemeni branch, was killed last year in a CIA drone strike.
Undercover officers had followed two of the conspirators in November 2010 as they made observations of London landmarks including Big Ben, parliament, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye.
The two men, Mohammed Chowdhury, 21, and Shah Rahman, 28, both from east London, admitted preparing for acts of terrorism by planning to put an improvised bomb in the toilets of the London Stock Exchange.
Brothers Gurukanth Desai, 30, and Abdul Miah, 25, both from Cardiff in Wales also pleaded guilty to the same charge. Some of the defendants had also discussed leaving home-made bombs in the toilets of pubs in Stoke, in the midlands.
The judge told Chowdhury he could expect to receive 18 and a half years and Rahman 17 years, although the actual time spent in jail would be shorter, around six years, taking account of time already served and parole.
The five other men, one from Cardiff and four from Stoke, admitted lesser terrorism offences including attending operational meetings and fundraising.
All will be sentenced next week.