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| Alleged terrorists called themselves the 'three musketeers', court told | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Alleged terrorists who referred to themselves as “the three musketeers” stashed a partially built pipe bomb and large knife inscribed with the word “kafir” on the blade as they plotted an attack, a court has heard. | Alleged terrorists who referred to themselves as “the three musketeers” stashed a partially built pipe bomb and large knife inscribed with the word “kafir” on the blade as they plotted an attack, a court has heard. |
| Naweed Ali and Khobaib Hussain, both of Birmingham, and Mohibur Rahman and Tahir Aziz, of Stoke-on-Trent, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of preparing terrorist acts between 25 May and 27 August last year. | Naweed Ali and Khobaib Hussain, both of Birmingham, and Mohibur Rahman and Tahir Aziz, of Stoke-on-Trent, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of preparing terrorist acts between 25 May and 27 August last year. |
| Ali, 29, Hussain, 25, and Rahman, 32, shared encrypted messages using a Telegram messaging group called “the three musketeers”, the court heard. | Ali, 29, Hussain, 25, and Rahman, 32, shared encrypted messages using a Telegram messaging group called “the three musketeers”, the court heard. |
| Part of the case will be heard in secret to avoid sensitive evidence from two anonymous witnesses being made public, jurors have been told. | Part of the case will be heard in secret to avoid sensitive evidence from two anonymous witnesses being made public, jurors have been told. |
| Gareth Patterson QC, prosecuting, told the court that evidence found on the defendants’ phones revealed their violent ideology. | Gareth Patterson QC, prosecuting, told the court that evidence found on the defendants’ phones revealed their violent ideology. |
| Officers swooped to arrest the group after uncovering a stash of weapons in Ali’s car last summer. On 26 August, his Seat Leon was searched and a JD Sports bag was recovered, containing a meat cleaver or machete. | Officers swooped to arrest the group after uncovering a stash of weapons in Ali’s car last summer. On 26 August, his Seat Leon was searched and a JD Sports bag was recovered, containing a meat cleaver or machete. |
| Patterson said: “Scratched on to the blade in capital letters was the word kafir. As you probably know, the word kafir in Arabic means a non-believer or infidel. You may think it is clear what message was to be sent by that item and what use Ali intended to make of it.” | Patterson said: “Scratched on to the blade in capital letters was the word kafir. As you probably know, the word kafir in Arabic means a non-believer or infidel. You may think it is clear what message was to be sent by that item and what use Ali intended to make of it.” |
| He showed jurors a picture of a length of metal piping with brass-coloured caps that he said was a partially-constructed pipe bomb. | He showed jurors a picture of a length of metal piping with brass-coloured caps that he said was a partially-constructed pipe bomb. |
| He said: “As you probably know, it is possible to construct improvised or homemade bombs and explosive devices. Damage can be done to property; injury or death can be caused to people nearby. | He said: “As you probably know, it is possible to construct improvised or homemade bombs and explosive devices. Damage can be done to property; injury or death can be caused to people nearby. |
| “This particular pipe device had no ignition mechanism and so it was not yet viable. But the ultimate intended use of this device was clear, we say.” | “This particular pipe device had no ignition mechanism and so it was not yet viable. But the ultimate intended use of this device was clear, we say.” |
| Also found were shotgun cartridges, an imitation handgun with an empty magazine strapped to it and one unfired bullet that could have been used in a semi-automatic pistol, as well as gaffer tape and rubber gloves, jurors were told. | Also found were shotgun cartridges, an imitation handgun with an empty magazine strapped to it and one unfired bullet that could have been used in a semi-automatic pistol, as well as gaffer tape and rubber gloves, jurors were told. |
| Patterson said care had clearly been taken to avoid leaving fingerprints on the items in the car. | Patterson said care had clearly been taken to avoid leaving fingerprints on the items in the car. |
| A Ford Fiesta belonging to Aziz, 38, was searched on the same day and phones were recovered as well as a large bladed weapon stashed by the driver’s seat, Patterson said. | A Ford Fiesta belonging to Aziz, 38, was searched on the same day and phones were recovered as well as a large bladed weapon stashed by the driver’s seat, Patterson said. |
| Rahman had bought mobile phones on eBay for Ali and Hussain to share covert discussions, the court heard. Patterson said: “These were men who were taking care to try to avoid detection of what they were doing and who wanted to pursue their plans secretly.” | Rahman had bought mobile phones on eBay for Ali and Hussain to share covert discussions, the court heard. Patterson said: “These were men who were taking care to try to avoid detection of what they were doing and who wanted to pursue their plans secretly.” |
| Much of the evidence in the case came from social media and private messages on WhatsApp and the encrypted service Telegram, he said. Telegram messages between Ali, Hussain and Rahman were highly significant, the prosecutor told the court. | Much of the evidence in the case came from social media and private messages on WhatsApp and the encrypted service Telegram, he said. Telegram messages between Ali, Hussain and Rahman were highly significant, the prosecutor told the court. |
| He said: “These were on a private message group called ‘the three musketeers’. Although Ali later changed the group photograph to [a cartoon image], the messages exchanged were on occasions far from humorous.” | He said: “These were on a private message group called ‘the three musketeers’. Although Ali later changed the group photograph to [a cartoon image], the messages exchanged were on occasions far from humorous.” |
| The trial judge, Mr Justice Globe, last week told jurors some evidence would be strictly “for your ears only” as he explained the need for an exception to the principle of open justice in the case. | The trial judge, Mr Justice Globe, last week told jurors some evidence would be strictly “for your ears only” as he explained the need for an exception to the principle of open justice in the case. |
| He told jurors: “I have indicated the evidence is sensitive. I have to direct you it is for your ears only.” | He told jurors: “I have indicated the evidence is sensitive. I have to direct you it is for your ears only.” |
| The defendants deny the charge against them. | The defendants deny the charge against them. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |