pic: PA

A 21-year-old man from the Isle of Dogs has admitted yesterday to plotting a terrorist attack on the London Stock Exchange along with three other men.

East London lines had earlier reported that Mohammad Chowdhury, of Stanliff House, Tower Hamlets, was one of nine charged with conspiracy to cause explosions in the UK.

Chowdhury was seen by police as the group’s ringleader. Judge Justice Wilkie indicated that their punishment could be less severe if they admitted to being involved in the plot, which resulted in four suspects pleading guilty. Justice Wilkie suggested ringleader Chowdhury would receive no more than 13 and a half years as he has already served some time in remand. Chowdury is likely to spend less than half of his sentence behind bars.

The men, who are all British nationals, admitted to planning to target the stock exchange by sending mail bombs. They aspired to launch a “Mumbai-style” attack in London and cause terror and economic harm. Findings in police investigation suggested the men were also planning attacks on Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Palace of Westminster and the London Eye.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Osborne, senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism, said: “We welcome the guilty pleas entered by all nine defendants today, following what was the largest counter-terrorism operation of 2010.”

The group had been arrested in December 2010 and the trial was set to take place at Woolwich Crown Court.