Three Islamic extremists were found guilty in London yesterday of involvement in a foiled 2006 plot to blow up passenger airliners flying between Britain and North America.

The plot aimed to kill thousands of people by bombing at least seven transatlantic airliners flying between London Heathrow airport and the US and Canada using liquid explosives hidden in soft drinks bottles.

Its discovery led to strict new rules about carrying liquids on commercial planes.

Adam Khatib, 22, was convicted of conspiracy to murder by plotting with ringleader Abdulla Ahmed Ali in the run-up to the attempted plot, after a trial at the high security Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London.

Nabeel Hussain, 25, was found guilty of preparing for terrorism by meeting Mr Ali twice and of possessing several items for use in terrorism, including mobile phones. He also had a will in which he contemplated a violent death.

Meanwhile Mohammed Shamin Uddin, 39, was convicted of possessing a CD likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

He was cleared of preparing for terrorism and possessing a CD which could be used for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

The three men, who are all from London, will be sentenced Thursday. Ringleader Ali was jailed for at least 40 years in September for conspiracy to murder over what prosecutors described as a "calculated and sophisticated plot to create a terrorist event of global proportions."

Tanvir Hussain, 28, and Assad Sarwar, 29, were convicted at the same time.

The head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, John McDowall, described both men as "committed terrorists".

"Adam Khatib may not have known the full extent of the plan being hatched by his co-conspirators, but he certainly knew that they had murder in mind," he said after Wednesday's verdict.

"He was a footsoldier to Abdulla Ahmed Ali and was actively involved in a conspiracy to attack innocent members of the public."