Trio Deny Helping July 7 Bombers

Three men from Leeds accused of helping those behind the July 7 bomb attack in London have denied conspiracy to cause an explosion.

Jurors heard today that Waheed Ali, 24, Sadeer Saleem, 27, and Mohammed Shakil, 32, looked for potential locations to detonate bombs such as the Natural History Museum and the London Eye.

The trio stand accused of aiding Mohammed Saddique Khan, Shezhad Tanweer, Jermain Lindsay and Hasib Hussain in the July attack in 2007.

Fifty-two people were were killed in four separate suicide bombings on London’s transport network on July 7.

CCTV footage tracking the bombers before they detonated their bombs was shown for the first time to jurors.

Footage of the Circle Line train, leaving Liverpool Street, before Tanweer detonated his device and the remains of the Picadilly Line train, after Lindsay detonated his device, were shown.

Hussain was captured on camera going into WH Smith, where it is believed he bought a new battery as he was having problems with his device.

A video was also shown of Mr Khan saying goodbye to his young daughter.

Neil Flewitt QC of the prosecuting team said that the accused were not directly involved but that they were "responsible for making or transporting the bombs,” and that they "shared the beliefs and objectives of the London bombers".

The court heard that the trio insist that they visited the Natural History Museum and the London Eye for "purely social reasons" and that their friendship with the London bombers was “entirely innocent” as they "knew nothing" of the plan to cause the explosions.

It is alleged that seven months before the attacks, the defendants travelled from Leeds to London with Hussain to look for targets.

It is expected that the trial will last between three and four months.

(DS/KMcA)