THE TELEGRAPH: Four Muslim fanatics who planned "bloodbaths" at US targets in Germany in an attempt to create a "second September 11" have been jailed.
Fritz Gelowicz, the ring leader, got 12 years, his German sidekick Daniel Schneider - both converts to Islam - 11 years while two accomplices were sentenced to five years each for their roles in a plot to detonate explosives 100 times more powerful than those used in the London Underground bombings of July 2005.
The four men, known as the "Sauerland Cell" after the tourist region where they stockpiled massive amounts of chemicals for the bombs, were jailed at the end of a nine-month trial.
In a rare move, prosecutors allowed them to plea-bargain their guilt in return for what the defendants hoped would be far shorter sentences.
In closing speeches top prosecutor Volker Brinkmann said the gang "had planned a mass murder unrivalled in Germany. They acted out of blind hatred for American soldiers," he said.
"It is terrible to think they enjoyed the concept of terror attacks that would have killed at least 150 soldiers as well as women and children.
"They appointed themselves masters over life and death." >>> Allan Hall, in Berlin | Thursday, March 04, 2010
TIMES ONLINE: Muslim radicals jailed for up to 12 years for planning Frankfurt terror attack >>> Roger Boyes, Berlin | Thursday, March 04, 2010
