Four men have been convicted in Germany of being part of an al-Qaida terrorist cell that planned to carry out a bombing attack.

Abdeladim El-Kebir, a 33-year-old Moroccan, was convicted of membership in a terrorist organization as the group's ringleader and sentenced Thursday to nine years in prison by Duesseldorf state court, the dpa news agency reported.

Two accomplices convicted of membership in al-Qaida were given seven years and 5 1/2 years in prison, while a fourth man convicted of supporting the terrorist organization received 4 1/2 years.

Authorities say El-Kebir and two others were making a bomb for an attack in Germany and were experimenting with explosives and detonators but hadn't chosen a target when they were arrested in 2011, while the fourth man provided finances and logistical help.