Four Men Convicted of Al Qaeda Plot in Germany

Berlin: Four men have been convicted in Germany of being part of an Al Qaeda terrorist cell that planned to carry out a bombing attack.

Abdeladim El-Kebir, a 33-year-old Moroccan, was convicted of membership in a terrorist organization as the group's ringleader and sentenced on Thursday to nine years in prison by the Duesseldorf state court, the dpa news agency reported.

Two accomplices convicted of membership in Al Qaeda were given seven years and 5 1/2 years in prison, while a fourth man convicted of supporting the terrorist organization received 4 1/2 years.

Authorities say El-Kebir and two others were making a bomb for an attack in Germany and were experimenting with explosives and detonators, but hadn't chosen a target when they were arrested in 2011, while the fourth man provided finances and logistical help.