LONDON – A British court has rejected an appeal by five men, serving life sentences for plotting a bombing spree, to overturn their convictions.

Omar Khyam, Waheed Mahmood, Jawad Akbar, Anthony Garcia, and Salahuddin Amin were convicted in April 2007 of plotting attacks against a construction firm, utilities or London's Ministry of Sound nightclub using fertilizer-packed explosives.

The yearlong trial exposed links between them and the men who blew themselves up on London's transit system in July 2005.

The bomb plotters' lawyers had criticized the trial judge's handling of their case.

On Wednesday, three judges at London's Court of Appeal said the criticisms were unfounded and refused to overturn the sentences.