Four men plead guilty to terror attack plan

Zahid Iqbal, 31, Mohammed Sharfaraz Ahmed, 25, Umar Arshad, 24, and Syed Farhan Hussain, 21, considered methods, materials and targets for an attack. The men were arrested following a series of raids in April last year at their homes in Luton.

They pleaded guilty to one terrorism charge at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday.

Iqbal, of Bishopscote Road, Arshad, Hussain and Ahmed downloaded computer files containing practical instruction for an attack. The men purchased survival equipment and collected funds for terrorist purposes.They also admitted facilitating, planning and encouraging travel overseas, as well as organising, encouraging and participating in physical training, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorist Act 2006. The offences took place between January 2011 and April last year.

They were due to stand trial next month but pleaded guilty in a hearing yesterday.

Further charges of possessing documents including the al Qaida magazine Inspire will be ordered to lie on file following the guilty plea to count one.

Sentencing was adjourned until April 15.