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Nine terror suspects plotted to blow up Big Ben and kill leading political and religious figures in a spectacular Christmas attack, a court heard yesterday.

The al-Qaeda inspired gang also allegedly targeted the Stock Exchange, the US embassy, the London Eye and Westminster Abbey.

They carried out reconnaissance missions as they planned their campaign of death at a time when the streets of the capital would have been packed with Christmas shoppers. Police found a list of six sites that also included London mayor Boris Johnsons office, the court heard.

Prosecutor Piers Arnold said the dossier of landmarks was discovered during searches by officers. He said: A handwritten note was found next to a computer with six contact details handwritten. They included the name, full address and postcodes.

Among the details were the addresses of the Dean of St Pauls Chapter House and two rabbis at separate synagogues.

A reconnaissance trip is alleged to have been made from Trafalgar Square, down ­Whitehall lined with government buildings to Westminster Bridge where Big Ben was studied intently.

The court was told a mobile phone had appeared to be pointed towards the clock.

The suspects then moved on to the South Bank where they allegedly studied the London Eye before heading to the Church of Scientology near Blackfriars which they observed intently for some minutes.

The suspects journey ended with a meal in a McDonalds, the court heard.

The accused men are said to have been caught with extremist ­literature including copies of al-Qaeda extremist magazine inspire and bomb-making instructions while in the advanced stages of their bomb plot.

They are also accused of agreeing potential targets, carrying out reconnaissance and testing ­materials.

When they appeared before Westminster magistrates yesterday, the men, aged between 19 and 28, were flanked by anti-terror police in body armour. Some of them were described as of Bangladeshi origin who were either born in the UK or had arrived when they were young.

One is a married dad of three and anothers wife is five months ­pregnant.

They spoke only to confirm their names, ages and addresses before being remanded in custody until January 14 when they are due to appear at the Old Bailey.

As they were driven away from court in police vans some made defiant hand gestures through the windows.

Three of the men are from Cardiff, two are from London and four from Stoke-on-Trent.

All were arrested during dawn raids in Birmingham, London, Cardiff and Stoke five days before Christmas following months of surveillance by the police and MI5.

The suspects are charged with conspiring to cause explosions likely to endanger life between November 6 and December 21.

They are also accused of preparing for acts of terrorism including downloading, obtaining and discussing materials and methods, agreeing ­potential targets and igniting and testing incendiary ­material.

The suspects from Cardiff are ­Gurukanth Desai, 28, and Omar Sharif Latif, 26, both of Riverside, and 24-year-old Abdul Malik Miah, of Leckwith.

Those from London are East Enders Mohammed Moksudur Rahman Chowdhury, 20, of Tower Hamlets, and 28-year-old Shah Mohammed Lutfar Rahman, from Newham.

The men from Stoke are Nazam Hussain, 25, of Cobridge, Usman Khan, 19, of Tunstall, Mohibur Rahman, 26, of Cobridge and Abul Bosher Mohammed Shahjahan, 26, of Burslem.

After last weeks raids, ­Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates said it was absolutely vital for the public to remain vigilant.

Five of the men also face a third charge of possessing information likely to be of use to terrorists.

US State Department spokesman Mark Toner yesterday confirmed the American embassy was among the alleged plots possible targets.

He said: I am aware and... ­obviously our folks in London are aware of this.

We are obviously taking ­suitable security precautions.