[JURIST] Seven men [BBC backgrounder] who conspired with British al Qaeda leader Dhiren Barot [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] to launch attacks in Britain and the US were sentenced to a combined 136 years in prison [London Metropolitan Police press release] Friday in London's Woolwich Crown Court. The shortest sentence handed down was 15 years imprisonment, while the longest was 26 years. Six of the men had pleaded guilty, while the seventh denied the charges, but was found guilty after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service Counter Terrorism Command [official website]. The seven men carried out research and contributed to planning terrorist attacks, including setting off a radioactive "dirty bomb."

Barot pleaded guilty last year [JURIST report] for his role, and as ringleader was given a 40 year to life sentence [press release; JURIST report]. The sentence was reduced to 30 years [JURIST report] last month when the appellate court ruled that Barot's conspiracy did not amount to an actual attempt. Reuters has more. BBC News has additional coverage.