Man guilty of helping terror plot

A man has been found guilty of plotting to murder along with an al-Qaeda operative who planned to kill thousands of people in the UK and the US.

Qaisar Shaffi was one of seven men who supported Dhiren Barot, who is now serving a life sentence.

Shaffi, 28, of Willesden, north west London, was convicted of conspiracy to murder and is now awaiting sentence.

He went to the US with Barot to view possible targets including the New York Stock Exchange and the IMF building.

Dhiren Barot was jailed for a bombing plot on the UK and US

Shaffi's six co-defendants have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life and are awaiting sentencing.

Photographs of the potential targets were used in Barot's plans to attack the US, and would have provided a blueprint for further attacks on buildings in London and the transport system.

Phone call

The jury heard police found pages of the Terrorist Handbook at Shaffi's house after his arrest in August 2004.

The book referred to chemicals, explosives and recipes for producing explosions.

It also emerged during the one-month trial that Shaffi had been overheard "effectively admitting" his part in the terrorist planning to his father.

In a phone call, he was heard to say: "They know I went to America, they know who I met, they know names and say I know people.

"Dad, pray for me. I'm sorry for what I have done."

The jury was not required to return verdicts on two further charges facing Shaffi - conspiracy to cause an explosion or explosions likely to endanger life, and possessing a record of information for terrorist purposes.

Barot, 35, was jailed last November for plotting attacks using explosives-packed limousines and a "dirty" radiation bomb.

He had intended a "memorable black day" of terror, Woolwich Crown Court was told.