Four men accused over the failed July 21 suicide bomb attacks on London were remanded in custody today after making their first brief court appearances amid unprecedented security.

Three other men charged with shielding a terrorist also appeared before Bow Street magistrates' court, in a hearing moved to a court complex next to Belmarsh Prison in southeast London.

Amid the tightest police guard ever seen at the court, the four suspected would-be suicide bombers were ordered to remain in prison for three months, before a hearing at the Old Bailey on November 14 where they will enter their pleas.

Three of the four are accused of conspiracy to murder; attempted murder; conspiring to endanger life by using explosives; and of making or possessing an explosive with the intent to endanger life or cause serious injury on July 21.

They are Ibrahim Muktar Said, 27, of Stoke Newington, who was charged with the failed Hackney bus bombing; Ramzi Mohamed, 23, of North Kensington, charged following the attempt on Oval Tube station; and Yassin Omar, 24, of New Southgate, who was charged on Saturday in connection with the failed bid to bomb a Tube train at Warren Street. He was arrested in Birmingham on July 27.

The fourth man to face bombing charges was Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 32, of Finsbury Park, north London, who faced charges of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life on July 21. These relate to the discovery of a discarded rucksack at Little Wormwood Scrubs, northwest London, on July 23, it is understood. He was also remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on November 14.

Before the proceedings began, the four were driven from the high security Paddington Green Police Station in West London in two convoys with sirens blaring and helicopters hovering overhead.

A ring of steel was thrown up around the court complex where a dozen specialist search officers and dogs trained to sniff out explosives guarded the main entrance. A cordon of crash barriers was erected away from the court building and visitors were funnelled through a search tent. Even plastic coffee cups were screened for harmful substances.

Five police officers from Scotland Yard’s SO19 firearms unit, armed with Heckler and Koch MP5 carbine rifles, stood guard outside the courtroom itself.

The defendants were brought into court one by one for separate hearings in front of a district judge, Timothy Workman. Each of the men was dressed in standard police issue clothing, consisting of a navy blue sweater or T-shirt and light grey jogging pants, and sat on a wooden bench in the dock behind a thick, glass screen stretching to the ceiling.

Two police officers in protective stab-proof vests and two prison officers were stationed behind each defendant. Two more police officers in protective vests, stood guard at the door and others were in the public gallery.

The first defendant to appear was Ibrahim Muktar Said, 27. He showed little emotion as the hearing progressed, intermittently allowing his eyes to dart off around the courtroom. He showed a brief acknowledgement and answered "yes" when asked to confirm his name and address.

Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 32, appeared in the dock with an interpreter who spoke the Ghanayan dialect Twi. He told the court he had no fixed abode and stood for most of the brief hearing looking slightly agitated. Asked if he understood the charges against him, he replied clearly in English: "Yes."

Ramzi Mohamed, 23, looked slightly distressed as he was read the same four charges. Slouched in the dock, he shook his head repeatedly and stared at the floor.

Yassin Omar, 24, from New Southgate, London, remained calm and said nothing as the same four charges were put to him, simply nodding when asked if he understood.

All four men are accused of plotting the failed July 21 atrocity with Hussain Osman, who is alleged to have tried to blow up a Tube train near Shepherds Bush. He is currently being held in Rome, awaiting extradition on a European arrest warrant.

No bail applications were made on behalf of any of the defendants. The will enter pleas to the charges against them at the hearing on November 14. None of them were in the dock today for more than a few minutes. Deborah Walsh, acting for the prosecution, gave no details of the case against them.

Three other men also appeared before the court today charged in connection with the failed July 21 bombings. Asias Girma, 20, of Stockwell, South London, appeared charged with failing to disclose information about Hussain Osman and with assisting him in evading arrest. Siraj Yassin Abdullah Ali, 30, of New Southgate, North London, appeared charged with failing to disclose information about Ibrahim Muktar Said and Yassin Omar, and with assisting Mr Said in evading arrest.

Wharbi Mohammed, 22, of Notting Hill, West London, appeared charged with failing to disclose information about Ramzi Mohamed and with assisting him in evading arrest. Bespectacled, he wore a blue sweatshirt and light trousers and spoke only to confirm his identity. They all appeared separately, one after the other, in a hearing that lasted less than ten minutes.

Each of the men’s representatives indicated that they would plead not guilty to the charges. No application for bail was made on their behalf and each was remanded in custody to appear before Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London on August 11. A committal hearing is likely on September 1.

Six other people had already been charged before today in connection with the July 21 attempted bombings. A further two people remain in custody in London, with Osman being held in Rome.

The failed July 21 attacks took place two weeks to the day after four suicide bombers killed themselves and 52 passengers on the London transport network.

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