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| 'There was no plan to attack UK,' says Brussels terror suspect 'There was no plan to attack UK,' says Brussels terror suspect | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Brussels bombing suspect told Belgian authorities there was no plan for a terror attack in the UK and denied he had made “reconnaissance trips”, a court has heard. | The Brussels bombing suspect told Belgian authorities there was no plan for a terror attack in the UK and denied he had made “reconnaissance trips”, a court has heard. |
| Mohamed Abrini, known as the “man in the hat”, is alleged to have received a £3,000 cash payment from defendant Zakaria Boufassil, 26, together with Mohammed Ali Ahmed, when he travelled to Britain from Syria and Turkey. | Mohamed Abrini, known as the “man in the hat”, is alleged to have received a £3,000 cash payment from defendant Zakaria Boufassil, 26, together with Mohammed Ali Ahmed, when he travelled to Britain from Syria and Turkey. |
| A jury at Kingston crown court in south-west London heard a transcript from an interview with Abrini, conducted in French by Belgian investigators, on 21 April 2016. | A jury at Kingston crown court in south-west London heard a transcript from an interview with Abrini, conducted in French by Belgian investigators, on 21 April 2016. |
| He told them: “On being arrested by you, neither in London, nor in Birmingham, nor in Manchester have I been on any reconnaissance trips in relation to preparatory terrorist attacks.” He added: “There’s no plan to target England as a potential site for a terrorist act. From what I know, it’s France who is declared the enemy of Islamic State. | He told them: “On being arrested by you, neither in London, nor in Birmingham, nor in Manchester have I been on any reconnaissance trips in relation to preparatory terrorist attacks.” He added: “There’s no plan to target England as a potential site for a terrorist act. From what I know, it’s France who is declared the enemy of Islamic State. |
| “I think England has a more developed secret service, better observation techniques, etc … and it’s therefore more difficult to attack.” | “I think England has a more developed secret service, better observation techniques, etc … and it’s therefore more difficult to attack.” |
| Quizzed on whether he was hiding information to protect others of “his group” who were in England, he said: “No, not at all. There are no other members in England and I am hiding no one … Those I met in England have nothing to do with the attacks in Paris and/or Brussels. I’d also like to point out it’s not my group, as stated in your question.” | Quizzed on whether he was hiding information to protect others of “his group” who were in England, he said: “No, not at all. There are no other members in England and I am hiding no one … Those I met in England have nothing to do with the attacks in Paris and/or Brussels. I’d also like to point out it’s not my group, as stated in your question.” |
| Birmingham pair Boufassil and Ahmed are charged with supplying “a quantity of sterling currency” to Abrini between 1 June 2014 and 16 April 2016 with the intention of committing or assisting another to commit acts of terrorism. | Birmingham pair Boufassil and Ahmed are charged with supplying “a quantity of sterling currency” to Abrini between 1 June 2014 and 16 April 2016 with the intention of committing or assisting another to commit acts of terrorism. |
| Boufassil has pleaded not guilty to the charge and denies sharing the intention of his co-accused Ahmed, whom the jury has heard admitted the same offence on 8 November. | Boufassil has pleaded not guilty to the charge and denies sharing the intention of his co-accused Ahmed, whom the jury has heard admitted the same offence on 8 November. |
| Abrini is in custody in Belgium charged with terrorist murder over the Brussels attack and wanted by French authorities in relation to the Paris attacks in November 2015. | Abrini is in custody in Belgium charged with terrorist murder over the Brussels attack and wanted by French authorities in relation to the Paris attacks in November 2015. |
| In a separate interview conducted on 20 April 2016, the court heard through the transcript read out by prosecutor Max Hill QC that Abrini had travelled from Brussels to Istanbul in Turkey, and then to Syria to visit his younger brother’s grave. | In a separate interview conducted on 20 April 2016, the court heard through the transcript read out by prosecutor Max Hill QC that Abrini had travelled from Brussels to Istanbul in Turkey, and then to Syria to visit his younger brother’s grave. |
| He said in Syria he was asked by an Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was near Raqqa, to go to the UK and “pick up some money”, but that he did not say who he was supposed to meet or the amount he was to pick up. | He said in Syria he was asked by an Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was near Raqqa, to go to the UK and “pick up some money”, but that he did not say who he was supposed to meet or the amount he was to pick up. |
| He said that, on arrival in London, he made contact with the numbers he had been given by Abaaoud and was told to go to Birmingham, which he said he did. Abrini added: “Two or three days before seeing the person for the transaction, I found it difficult to get to see him. | He said that, on arrival in London, he made contact with the numbers he had been given by Abaaoud and was told to go to Birmingham, which he said he did. Abrini added: “Two or three days before seeing the person for the transaction, I found it difficult to get to see him. |
| “We had several contacts and he asked me to go to a park several times but then he cancelled the meeting. I think it may have been counter-measures for their protection to check if I had been followed.” | “We had several contacts and he asked me to go to a park several times but then he cancelled the meeting. I think it may have been counter-measures for their protection to check if I had been followed.” |
| On “the third day” of his visit to Birmingham, Abrini said he had a meeting at around 4pm or 5pm at the park “near the mosque” – which is understood to have been Small Heath park – and was told to wait near a pizzeria, facing the park, for a person in a blue jacket. | On “the third day” of his visit to Birmingham, Abrini said he had a meeting at around 4pm or 5pm at the park “near the mosque” – which is understood to have been Small Heath park – and was told to wait near a pizzeria, facing the park, for a person in a blue jacket. |
| After 10 minutes the person arrived. Abrini said: “This person then told me to follow him while keeping a distance of between 10 to 15 metres between us. I do not know the reason why he wanted to do that. I just did what he told me.” | After 10 minutes the person arrived. Abrini said: “This person then told me to follow him while keeping a distance of between 10 to 15 metres between us. I do not know the reason why he wanted to do that. I just did what he told me.” |
| They crossed the large park, a bridge outside the park which passes outside the motorway and then went into a forest, Abrini said during the interview. “There was actually a second person who waited in the forest and it was him who had the money that needed to be given to me,” he added. | They crossed the large park, a bridge outside the park which passes outside the motorway and then went into a forest, Abrini said during the interview. “There was actually a second person who waited in the forest and it was him who had the money that needed to be given to me,” he added. |
| “The one who had the money was called Zakaria. I only found out his name when we met in the forest. Zakaria expressed himself correctly in French. I think he is originally from France because I noticed a French accent.” | “The one who had the money was called Zakaria. I only found out his name when we met in the forest. Zakaria expressed himself correctly in French. I think he is originally from France because I noticed a French accent.” |
| He added: “We spoke a little about the trip. He then asked me who has sent me to collect the money. I answered that it was Abaaoud. On these words he took out his bag and gave me the money. We did not count the money together. He told me there was 3,000 [pounds].” Abrini said Zakaria told him it had taken a long time because he “had to verify with Syria” that he was the right person. | He added: “We spoke a little about the trip. He then asked me who has sent me to collect the money. I answered that it was Abaaoud. On these words he took out his bag and gave me the money. We did not count the money together. He told me there was 3,000 [pounds].” Abrini said Zakaria told him it had taken a long time because he “had to verify with Syria” that he was the right person. |
| Following the exchange, he said he went back to his hotel, where he left the cash, and headed out for a walk – and proceeded to travel to Manchester after a day or two. | Following the exchange, he said he went back to his hotel, where he left the cash, and headed out for a walk – and proceeded to travel to Manchester after a day or two. |
| During questioning by Belgian authorities, Abrini revealed he had visited casinos in Manchester and Birmingham. | During questioning by Belgian authorities, Abrini revealed he had visited casinos in Manchester and Birmingham. |
| Abrini told officers when asked why he had gone to a casino: “I am a player, a fan of casinos. I am registered a little everywhere in casinos: Lille, Essen … I am a player, it’s my addiction. I play Russian roulette, poker and the slot machines, but only in Lille for slot machines.” | Abrini told officers when asked why he had gone to a casino: “I am a player, a fan of casinos. I am registered a little everywhere in casinos: Lille, Essen … I am a player, it’s my addiction. I play Russian roulette, poker and the slot machines, but only in Lille for slot machines.” |
| While in Manchester, on 15 July 2015, Abrini bought a ticket for the next day to fly from Birmingham to Charles de Gaulle airport from the Thomas Cook travel agency in the Arndale shopping centre. | While in Manchester, on 15 July 2015, Abrini bought a ticket for the next day to fly from Birmingham to Charles de Gaulle airport from the Thomas Cook travel agency in the Arndale shopping centre. |
| Jurors also heard that, after the first interview, Abrini was shown a photograph of Mohammed Ali Ahmed, to which he said he “didn’t know his name”. | Jurors also heard that, after the first interview, Abrini was shown a photograph of Mohammed Ali Ahmed, to which he said he “didn’t know his name”. |
| He added: “It’s the person I met opposite the pizzeria, the one I had to follow through all the park then on to the bridge and who took me all the way to Zakaria. This person stayed with Zakaria during the exchange of money.” | He added: “It’s the person I met opposite the pizzeria, the one I had to follow through all the park then on to the bridge and who took me all the way to Zakaria. This person stayed with Zakaria during the exchange of money.” |
| He was also shown pictures of people including Boufassil, to which he told Belgian authorities: “I do not recognise all these people. I do not know these people.” | He was also shown pictures of people including Boufassil, to which he told Belgian authorities: “I do not recognise all these people. I do not know these people.” |
| He also said he “can’t explain why Zakaria did not go to Belgium, nor why the money had not been transferred via a money transfer service”. | He also said he “can’t explain why Zakaria did not go to Belgium, nor why the money had not been transferred via a money transfer service”. |
| Abrini said the money was “not for a terrorist network” because it was “too small a sum”, adding: “To carry out attacks you need lots of money.” | Abrini said the money was “not for a terrorist network” because it was “too small a sum”, adding: “To carry out attacks you need lots of money.” |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |