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'Airline plotters played tennis' 'Airline plotters played tennis'
(about 1 hour later)
Several members of a group accused of plotting to blow up transatlantic passenger planes played tennis as they finalised plans, a court has heard.Several members of a group accused of plotting to blow up transatlantic passenger planes played tennis as they finalised plans, a court has heard.
Undercover police watched at least three of the eight men play sport in east London in July 2006, Woolwich Crown Court was told.Undercover police watched at least three of the eight men play sport in east London in July 2006, Woolwich Crown Court was told.
The jury heard that games took place between visits to a flat in Walthamstow where liquid bombs were being prepared.The jury heard that games took place between visits to a flat in Walthamstow where liquid bombs were being prepared.
All eight men deny conspiring to murder and endangering aircraft in 2006.All eight men deny conspiring to murder and endangering aircraft in 2006.
Their arrests in August that year led to a ban on passengers carrying most liquids on board aircraft.Their arrests in August that year led to a ban on passengers carrying most liquids on board aircraft.
Pakistan tripsPakistan trips
Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, described one of the defendants, Arafat Waheed Khan, 26, as an intended suicide bomber and an "important conduit" between co-defendants, Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 27, and Assad Sarwar, 24. Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, described one of the defendants, Mohammed Gulzar, 26, as a senior figure in the alleged plot.
The jury was told he flew into the UK from South Africa on 18 July 2006 on a false passport, and went on to miss his return flight home.
"He entered the UK as a radicalised Islamist pursuing a violent agenda," Mr Wright said.
EIGHT ACCUSED MEN TOP ROW OF PICTURE (L-R): Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 27Assad Sarwar, 24Tanvir Hussain, 27Mohammed Gulzar, 26 BOTTOM ROW (L-R): Ibrahim Savant, 27Arafat Waheed Khan, 26Waheed Zaman, 23Umar Islam, 29 The 'airliners plot' allegations
"He led a Spartan existence so as not to draw attention to himself in the prelude of what would be a violent and bloody statement of intent."
He and another seven men are accused of plotting to use home-made devices of liquid explosives, which would be smuggled on to aircraft and then used to blow up a number of transatlantic flights from London's Heathrow Airport.
On his arrest at home in Barking, east London, police found Mr Gulzar had been sleeping on a mattress and only had a few personal possessions, including a satnav, camcorder and MP3 player, the court heard.
Mr Wright told the court Mr Gulzar had arrived in the UK with a woman who only had a one-way ticket, and soon flew on to Belgium.
He told police he had recently married her after they met at Islamabad airport, yet Mr Wright said there was little evidence the couple spent any time together.
The marriage was, he said, little more than cover for his ulterior motive to join the conspiracy.
Mr Wright described another of the defendants, Arafat Waheed Khan, 26, as an intended suicide bomber and an "important conduit" between co-defendants, Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 27, and Assad Sarwar, 24.
He said Mr Khan's passport showed he had travelled to Pakistan between October 2005 and January 2006 at the same time as Mr Ali and Mr Sarwar.He said Mr Khan's passport showed he had travelled to Pakistan between October 2005 and January 2006 at the same time as Mr Ali and Mr Sarwar.
Mr Wright added that Mr Khan was directly involved in buying bomb-making equipment and appeared in two separate suicide videos. Mr Khan was directly involved in buying bomb-making equipment and appeared in two separate suicide videos, Mr Wright added.
The eight men are accused of plotting to use home-made devices of liquid explosives, which would be smuggled on to aircraft and then used to blow up a number of transatlantic flights from London's Heathrow Airport. 'Spilt blood'
The other defendants are Tanvir Hussain, 27, of Leyton, east London, and Mohammed Gulzar, 26, of Barking. The court also heard police officers found CDs about jihad and martyrdom in the Walthamstow home of 23-year-old Waheed Zaman, another of the alleged plotters, after his arrest on 10 August 2006.
Also charged, are Ibrahim Savant, 27, of Stoke Newington, Waheed Zaman, 23, of Walthamstow, and Umar Islam, aka Brian Young, 29, of Plaistow, east London. One CD was called 19 Martyrs - which Mr Wright said referred to those who lost their lived in the attacks on New York's World Trade Center in September 2001.
Two other CDs were called Crusaders Return and contained images of Osama Bin Laden, and a fourth was entitled Operation JH (or Jihad), he said.
On his arrest, Mr Zaman was carrying two mobile phones, one of which contained text messages referring to paradise and "blood spilt for the sake of Allah", the court was told.
The other defendants are Tanvir Hussain, 27, of Leyton, east London, Ibrahim Savant, 27, of Stoke Newington, and Umar Islam, aka Brian Young, 29, of Plaistow, east London.