21/7 backers launch appeal

Five men found guilty of helping the failed July 21 London bombers evade police launched appeals today.

They were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court in February to between seven and 17 years following a four-month trial.

Jurors heard that they provided the terrorist cell with safe houses, food, clothes and mobile phones.

Siraj Ali, 34, from Enfield, north London, Muhedin Ali, 30, from Ladbroke Grove, west London, Ismail Abdurahman, 26, from Lambeth, south London, and Wahbi Mohammed, 26, and Abdul Sherif, 31, both from Stockwell, south London, were convicted of charges of failing to disclose information about terrorism and assisting an offender.

Siraj Ali and Wahbi Mohammed were also convicted of having prior knowledge of the 2005 plot to explode devices on the London transport network.

Three judges at the Court of Appeal in London heard applications for permission to appeal against conviction by three of the men today and sentence applications by two others.

After hearing legal argument, Lord Justice Latham, Mr Justice Openshaw and Mr Justice Burnett reserved their decision.