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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| 7/7 accused denies bomb plotting | 7/7 accused denies bomb plotting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man accused of a reconnaissance trip for the 7 July suicide bombers has told a jury he had nothing to do with 2005's attacks on London's transport system. | A man accused of a reconnaissance trip for the 7 July suicide bombers has told a jury he had nothing to do with 2005's attacks on London's transport system. |
| Michael Wolkind QC, for Waheed Ali, told the jury his client had wanted to train for violent jihad in Pakistan. | |
| But he said the Leeds man had not sought, desired or approved of a bombing campaign in the UK. | But he said the Leeds man had not sought, desired or approved of a bombing campaign in the UK. |
| Mr Ali and two others deny conspiring with their friends who led the attacks on London. | |
| Taking to the witness box at Kingston Crown Court, Mr Ali told the jury that he had played no part in the plot to attack the London transport system. | Taking to the witness box at Kingston Crown Court, Mr Ali told the jury that he had played no part in the plot to attack the London transport system. |
| Sadeer Saleem and Mohammed Shakil also deny the charge | Sadeer Saleem and Mohammed Shakil also deny the charge |
| "Did you take part in any terrorist planning in London?" asked Mr Wolkind. | |
| "No, I did not," replied Mr Ali. | "No, I did not," replied Mr Ali. |
| "Did you take part in any reconnaissance trip for this plan to bomb the Underground?" | "Did you take part in any reconnaissance trip for this plan to bomb the Underground?" |
| "No, I did not." | "No, I did not." |
| Opening the defence, Mr Wolkind told the jury that Mr Ali had a "complete defence" to the prosecution's allegation. | Opening the defence, Mr Wolkind told the jury that Mr Ali had a "complete defence" to the prosecution's allegation. |
| "This is an outstandingly weak prosecution - the defence is full of difficulty that will demand all your care and effort to avoid the traps of prejudice," said Mr Wolkind. | "This is an outstandingly weak prosecution - the defence is full of difficulty that will demand all your care and effort to avoid the traps of prejudice," said Mr Wolkind. |
| "Along the way you will have to deal with [evidence] that is alien and foreign and that is offensive by your standards." | "Along the way you will have to deal with [evidence] that is alien and foreign and that is offensive by your standards." |
| Mr Wolkind said the 25-year-old had come to religion in his teens and had decided in 2004 to travel to Pakistan. | Mr Wolkind said the 25-year-old had come to religion in his teens and had decided in 2004 to travel to Pakistan. |
| But Mr Wolkind said this trip had had nothing to do with the plot to attack London on 7 July 2005. | But Mr Wolkind said this trip had had nothing to do with the plot to attack London on 7 July 2005. |
| "He is going there to train, to learn to fight, because maybe he will fight," said Mr Wolkind. | "He is going there to train, to learn to fight, because maybe he will fight," said Mr Wolkind. |
| "Whether his fight is a good cause, such as jihad to defend his Muslim brothers, or whether it's a cause that you condemn, simply is not and cannot be the issue in this case. It's not a factor that makes your verdict." | "Whether his fight is a good cause, such as jihad to defend his Muslim brothers, or whether it's a cause that you condemn, simply is not and cannot be the issue in this case. It's not a factor that makes your verdict." |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |