LONDON, June 10 (UPI) -- Six men whose tardy arrival foiled their attempt to disrupt a protest by a right-wing British group were sent to prison for about 19 years, officials say.
The men had earlier pleaded guilty to engaging in preparation for acts of terrorism in targeting a demonstration by the English Defense League in June 2012, The Guardian reported Monday.
Omar Khan, 31, Jewel Uddin, 27, and Zohaib Ahmed, 22, were each sentenced to 19 1/2 years in prison.
Another three men received prison terms of 18 3/4 years: Mohammed Saud, 23, Anzal Hussain, 25, and Mohammed Hasseen, 23.
The men were unable to carry out their planned attack against the anti-Islamic group because they arrived 2 hours after the EDL demonstration was over, Judge Nicholas Hilliard was told.
A police officer conducting a routine stop as the men returned to Birmingham uncovered the plan when he found two shotguns, swords, knives, a nail bomb and a partially assembled pipe bomb in the trunk of one of their vehicles.
