British men 'plotted drive-by terror attacks' in London

A gang of young men plotted to murder police officers, soldiers or civilians on the streets of London in an attack inspired by Islamic State, the Old Bailey has heard.

Nathan Cuffy, 26, Nyall Hamlett, 25, Tarik Hassane, 22 and Suhaib Majeed, 21, all British nationals from West London, deny conspiracy to murder and preparation of terrorist act.

Prosecutors argue that the men had already acquired weapons - including a self-loading pistol, a magazine with ammunition and a silencer – and were looking to buy a moped that could not be traced, the BBC reports.

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"The evidence points to this being a plot to kill, a plot to execute a policeman or a soldier or as I say even an ordinary member of the public, in one or more assassinations either involving a drive-by shooting or a shooting on foot and then a speedy escape by moped," said prosecutor Brian Altman QC.

Three of the suspects were arrested in September 2014, after which it is alleged that ringleader Hassane returned to London from Sudan and planned to carry out an attack on his own.

"Hassane was now, in the absence of the others, quite clearly intending to progress the plan as a lone wolf terrorist to further IS's terror reach into the capital city of this country," said Altman.

He carried out a "hostile reconnaissance by" searching for potential targets online, the court heard.

These allegedly included Shepherd's Bush police station and the Parachute Regiment Territorial Army Barracks at White City.

Hassane, who is said to have pledged his allegiance to IS, was arrested in October.

The trial continues.