A combination photo showing (top, left to right) Abdul Sherif, Siraj Ali, (bottom left to right) Muhedin Ali, Ismail Abdurahman and Wahbi Mohammed. Five men were found guilty of terrorism offences on Monday after helping an al-Qaeda inspired gang in the wake of botched suicide bombings on London's transport system. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Sentencing them at Kingston Crown Court, southwest London, Judge Paul Worsley said each of the defendants helped the four men who were eventually jailed for the failed plot on July 21, 2005 to temporarily escape capture.

'I have no doubt that you were each prepared to aid ruthless men and that, in doing so, each of you must have harboured the hope that the bombers would ultimately be successful in their mission to destroy society as we know it, instil fear in its ranks and bring division among peace-loving people,' he said.

The head of the counter-terrorism command at London's Metropolitan Police, Peter Clarke, also denounced the men for not telling the authorities about the plot, which only failed when the homemade devices did not detonate.

'Two of the men jailed today knew about these plans yet, despicably, failed to alert the authorities,' he said. 'Even after the attacks they helped the bombers evade capture, despite an appeal for assistance from the public.'

A jury earlier found the five - including the brothers of two of the failed bombers - guilty of providing safe houses, passports as well as clothing and food as they hid from police. They were sentenced to between seven and 17 years.

Siraj Ali, 33; Muhedin Ali, 29; Ismail Abdurahman, 25; Wahbi Mohammed, 25; and Abdul Sherif, 30, all from London, were convicted on 22 charges of failing to disclose information about terrorism and assisting an offender.

In a verdict handed down after a four-month trial, Ali and Mohammed were also found guilty of knowing in advance about the plot to cause explosions on London's public transport system.

Yassin Hassan Omar, 24; Muktar Said Ibrahim, 27; Ramzi Mohammed, 26; and Osman Hussain, 27, were found guilty last year over the failed attacks on the London underground and a bus.

The attacks came exactly two weeks after July 7 attacks in which four suicide bombers launched simultaneous attacks, killing themselves and 52 other people.

Sherif was Osman's brother and was in touch with him in the run up to the failed attacks. Wahbi Mohammed is the brother of Ramzi Mohammed.

All five defendants were originally from Africa, but had lived in London for some years, the trial heard. Immigration officials are now looking at whether they can be deported after serving their sentences.

Prosecutor Max Hill said that all five except Abdurahman knew about the planned attacks but failed to alert authorities. Sherif's behaviour 'demonstrated sympathy towards and knowledge of the planned attacks", he said.

Sherif was said to be 'euphoric' and in a 'buoyant mood' after the July 7 bombings and shortly afterwards showed a pub landlord a text message saying 'there will be more bloodshed in London'. -- AFP