Four men who admitted planning bomb attacks on US targets in Germany have been convicted by a court in Duesseldorf of conspiracy to murder and of belonging to a terrorist group.

The defendants, three Germans and one Turk, who were to use car bombs in the attacks, were known as the "Sauerland group" after the area of western Germany where they were caught.

Police had been watching their cottage for several months before making the arrests.

Fritz Gelowicz, the group's ringleader, was jailed for 12 years.

Daniel Schneider, who fired at a police officer during an escape attempt, was also sentenced to 12 years.

Both men were converts to Islam.

The state court sentenced Adem Yilmaz, a Turkish citizen, to 11 years and Atilla Selek, a German citizen of Turkish origin, to five years.