Bomb plotter 'spoke of 4 cells', July 7 inquest hears

MI5 bugged a terrorist who was in contact with two of the men who bombed London in 2005 and recorded him boasting of four cells which could mount an attack, the July 7 inquest heard today.

Omar Khyam and several other men were arrested in March 2004 for plotting to bomb sites including Bluewater shopping centre.

MI5 knew he had met Mohammad Sidique Khan, ringleader of the July 7 attacks, and his deputy Shehzad Tanweer at least four times.

Khyam was bugged on 20 February 2004 apparently talking to a Canadian bomb expert, Mohammed Momin Khawaja. An MI5 note recorded that he said: "One cell goes down won't affect other one, we've got four. Don't mix people up."

The inquest is investigating whether MI5 could have established that Khan and Tanweer were planning mass murder.

The hearing continues.