The suicide bomb plotters were heavily influenced by the radical teachings of al Qaida supporter and Yemeni-based preacher Anwar al-Awlaki, according to police.
The extremist preacher was killed in a US unmanned drone strike in Yemen in September 2011, after being targeted for his support of the international terror network led by Osama bin Laden.
But despite identifying with his teachings, Irfan Naseer, Irfan Khalid, and Ashik Ali distanced themselves from any link with al Qaida, and Khalid was covertly recorded as stating "it's not for any group, it's for Allah".
(Left to right) Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali, both 27
They celebrated the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and their activity increased markedly after that date.
The group also appeared to want revenge for the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad and at one point Khalid was heard saying he wanted "another 9/11".
Detective Inspector Adam Gough, senior investigating officer during the counter-terror probe, also revealed Naseer and Khalid had almost certainly filmed "martyrdom videos" while in Pakistan in the jihadist madrassas.
He said: "They discussed making martyrdom videos to be released after their deaths. Let me make it clear, they discussed their release, they weren't thinking of filming them, they had already done it."
He added that they had "discussed that they had made martyrdom videos" but the police never found the tapes, and it is believed they are still in Pakistan.
The three were also recorded discussing "getting their families into heaven" through their own "martyrdom".