IRA `A-team' get 35 years in jail

Six IRA bombers, described as a "terrorist A-team", were yesterday jailed for 35 years each. The gang had planned to blow up electricity sub-stations in London and the South East causing the biggest black-out since the Blitz.

A senior anti-terrorist figure said gang was made up of "some of the most dangerous people" he had ever seen in one place.

An intensive 10-day surveillance operation uncovered a highly-organised and well-funded plot to bring the capital to its knees.

Each member of the gang had up to four separate aliases, dating from up to two years before, suggesting they had been involved in preparations during the IRA ceasefire.

One detective described the operation as the most sophisticated he had ever seen.