U.K. Jury Convicts Four Over July 21 Terror Attack

July 9 (Bloomberg) -- Four men were convicted today of taking part in a botched suicide attack on London's public transport system on July 21, 2005, two weeks after bombers murdered 52 commuters during the morning rush hour.

Muktar Said Ibrahim, Yassin Hassin Omar, Hussein Osman and Ramzi Mohammed were convicted by a jury in London of conspiracy to murder in an attack targeting three trains and a bus. The jury is still considering charges against two other defendants.

The July 21 attack came as Londoners were recovering from the deadliest attacks on the city since World War II and the first suicide bombings in Western Europe. On July 7, 2005, four other Muslims had blown themselves up, killing commuters in attacks also aimed at three trains and a bus.

The four defendants convicted so far claim it was a hoax designed as a protest against the war in Iraq. The prosecution said the men had incompetently mixed the chemicals used in their bombs and had planned to kill hundreds of people.

The attempted attacks were carried out on a bus in Hackney and on trains at Warren Street, Shepherd's Bush and Oval underground stations.

Lost His Nerve

The jury is still considering charges against Manfo Kwako Asiedu and Adel Yahya.

Asiedu, who didn't set off a bomb, said he went along with the gang's plans because he was frightened of them. He claims he never intended to kill and deliberately defused a bomb to save lives. The prosecution says he intended to become a suicide bomber and lost his nerve on the morning of the attack.

Yahya, who was out of the country at the time of the attack, claims he had nothing to do with the plot. The prosecution alleges he planned the whole thing.

The case is being conducted at Woolwich Crown Court, a specially designed high-security courthouse adjacent to Belmarsh jail where the men are being held.

Justice Adrian Fulford told the jury today that he would accept verdicts against Asiedu and Yahya if 10 of the 12 jurors agree. Under U.K. law, majority verdicts are permitted when jurors can't reach unanimous agreement. The nine women and three men, who will return to court tomorrow, have been listening to evidence since the beginning of the year and deliberating since June 28.