[BBC] Leaders of a Birmingham terror cell that planned an attack to rival the 7 July and 9/11 atrocities have been jailed.Irfan Naseer, 31, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years, Irfan Khalid, 28, was given 18 years and Ashik Ali was sentenced to 15 years.
The judge said Naseer wanted to turn part of Birmingham into a "little war zone".
Eight other members of the terror cell will be sentenced later.
The group had planned to set off up to eight bombs in rucksacks, using timers to detonate the charges.
'Skilful bomb-maker'
Detectives believe the terror plot is the most significant to be uncovered since the 2006 conspiracy to blow up transatlantic airliners using bombs disguised as soft drinks.
Mr Justice Henriques told Naseer during sentencing: "Your plot had the blessing of al-Qaeda and you intended to further the aims of al-Qaeda."
In February, the three men were found guilty of 12 counts of preparing for acts of terrorism.
They were arrested in September 2011, amid fears an attack was imminent.
Naseer and Khalid had received training from al-Qaeda contacts in Pakistan and had recorded martyrdom videos there before returning to the UK.
Having recruited others, the group posed as legitimate charity workers on the streets of Birmingham and collected thousands of pounds from unsuspecting members of the public.
Naseer played a key role in sending four other Birmingham men to Pakistan to receive training.
They and four other members of the group pleaded guilty to preparing for acts of terrorism and are due to be sentenced later on Friday.