Man denies planes bomb plot link

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A man accused of involvement in a plan to bomb passenger aircraft has told a jury his only connection to the organiser of the plot was as a friend.

Adam Khatib and two other men deny assisting Abdulla Ahmed Ali, who has been convicted of conspiracy to murder.

The 22-year-old from east London told Woolwich Crown Court a trip to Pakistan with Ali was not related to terrorism.

And he said a school French essay about joining al-Qaeda was written because he "liked to push the boundaries".

"It was controversial, it was just an essay," he said, describing himself as a "clown" and "rebel" when at school.

The trial has heard that Ali was convicted in September 2009 of conspiracy to murder alongside Assad Sarwar and Tanvir Hussain and that the plot involved the "deployment of suicide bombs upon passenger aircraft".

'Out of context'

Mr Khatib denies conspiracy to murder.

Mohammed Shamin Uddin, 39, of Stoke Newington, is accused of preparing for terrorism by meeting with Ali four times in July and August 2006. He is also accused of researching the use and purchase of hydrogen peroxide and possessing materials that could be used for terrorism.

Nabeel Hussain, 25, of Chingford, east London, is accused of preparing for terrorism by meeting Ali twice in July 2006. He is also accused of having various items - a will, mobile phones and a £25,000 loan application - for use in terrorism.

The prosecution has claimed Mr Khatib's fingerprints were found on an empty packet of latex gloves in the "bomb factory" used by Ali and Tanvir Hussain.

Mr Khatib told the court he became friends with Ali through knowing his brother.

"He was not really my friend, but we did become friends. We played football in the park," he said, adding that he later helped Ali sell electronic goods such as laptops and phones.

He said his father was originally from Mauritius and his mother had mixed British Mauritian parentage but he considered himself British. After leaving school he worked in sales in Walthamstow market near his home and in a clothes shop in the West End of London.

He said claims that he had allegedly expressed hatred for Israelis and Americans were "taken out of context" and related to his dislike of the Bush administration.

On his trip to abroad with Ali, he told the court: "I have always had an interest in foreign countries, China, Tibet, Cuba. I wanted to go to Pakistan and asked if I could tag along."