Denmark Convicts 4 in Terror Plot

Four men who planned a shooting spree at the office of a Danish newspaper that published cartoons of the prophet Mohammed were found guilty of terrorism today and sentenced each to 12 years in prison. The men were arrested in late December 2010 just hours before authorities say they planned to carry out a violent attack on the Jyllands-Posten's offices in Copenhagen. The Glostrup City Court handed down prison sentences to Mounir Ben Mohamed Dhahri, Munir Awad, Omar Abdalla Aboelazm, and Sabhi Ben Mohamed Zalouti.

The men, Swedish residents of North African and Mideast origin, gave conflicting explanations about the purpose of their journey, which included New Year celebrations in the Danish capital and travel in Sweden. Surveillance recordings played during the trial showed the four men meeting in Stockholm and discussing martyrdom, the Jyllands-Posten newspaper and how they should kill as many people as possible inside the building housing the paper and take one hostage. At a prayer service in Denmark before their arrest, the men were heard on a surveillance tape saying "when you meet the infidels, cut their throats." (More Danish Mohammed cartoons stories.)