London July 21 bomb suspects due in court

LONDON - Four Britons are due to appear in court today accused of planning to detonate bombs on London's transport system on July 21 two weeks after suicide bombers had killed 52 people in similar attacks.

The men, Ibrahim Muktar Said, Ramzi Mohammed, Yassin Hassan Omar and Hussain Osman, are due to appear at London's Old Bailey criminal court via videolink from a high security jail.

They are all charged with attempted murder and possessing explosives. Police accuse the men of trying to set off bombs on three underground trains and a bus but their devices had failed to detonate.

A fifth man, Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, is also due to appear charged with conspiracy to murder and explosives offences.

A police source said he was the man dubbed the "fifth bomber" by British media which said he had dumped a bag of explosives in a London park a few days after the July 21 attacks.

Today's hearing is likely to be little more than a technical hearing.

Three of the accused were arrested by detectives a week after the failed attacks following a nationwide police operation. Osman, also known as Hamdi Issac, was arrested by police in Italy and extradited to Britain in September.

Also due in court on Thursday are 10 people charged under anti-terrorism laws for failing to disclose information to police in connection with the July 21 failed attacks.

- REUTERS