Briton convicted over al Qaeda U.S. plot

LONDON (Reuters) - A British man who carried out reconnaissance for an al Qaeda plot to bomb U.S. financial targets was convicted by a London court on Wednesday of conspiracy to murder.

Qaisar Shaffi accompanied al Qaeda operative Dhiren Barot on a trip to the United States in 2001 to shoot video of bomb targets including the New York Stock Exchange.

Barot is already serving a life sentence in Britain. Six associates are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiring to cause explosions likely to endanger life.

"Qaisar Shaffi's conviction is the final stage in bringing to justice one of the most dangerous and ambitious terrorist cells ever to operate in this country," said prosecutor Patrick Stevens.

Prosecutors said Barot plotted to blow up the headquarters of the NYSE, Citigroup, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and Prudential in New York, Washington and Newark, New Jersey.

After the al Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001, on the United States, he switched his attention to preparing attacks in Britain, drawing up schemes involving gas-filled limousines or a radioactive "dirty bomb".

Shaffi, 28, argued at his trial that he and Barot had just been sightseeing on their U.S. trip.

After the cell was arrested in August 2004, police found pages of a "terrorist handbook" at Shaffi's house which referred to chemicals and explosives.

While held at a London police station, he was overheard telling his father in a tearful phone conversation that police knew about his movements and meetings.