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Terror suspect Abid Naseer sought by US authorities | Terror suspect Abid Naseer sought by US authorities |
(40 minutes later) | |
A terror suspect living in Manchester was part of an al-Qaeda plot to launch co-ordinated international bombings, US Justice Department lawyers have said. | A terror suspect living in Manchester was part of an al-Qaeda plot to launch co-ordinated international bombings, US Justice Department lawyers have said. |
The lawyers are seeking to extradite Abid Naseer to the US to stand trial over alleged plots to plant bombs in Manchester, New York and Norway. | |
David Perry QC told Westminster Magistrates' Court Mr Naseer sought to "attack Western interests". | David Perry QC told Westminster Magistrates' Court Mr Naseer sought to "attack Western interests". |
Mr Naseer, 24, who came from Pakistan on a student visa, denies the charges. | |
However, the court heard allegations he carried out reconnaissance on targets in Manchester city centre, "most likely in the vicinity of St Ann's Square or the Arndale Shopping Centre". | |
'Point of contact' | |
Mr Perry said the alleged plot was a "wide, international conspiracy conceived by al-Qaeda", for which Mr Naseer was the organisation's UK "point of contact". | |
Mr Naseer was among a group of 10 Pakistanis arrested in April 2009 on suspicion of plotting a terror attack in the UK but nobody was charged. | |
Following his arrest, the Home Office failed in a bid to deport Mr Naseer to Pakistan because of fears he would be tortured. | |
US authorities now want him to face trial for the role they claim he played in the alleged conspiracy to blow up targets in the three countries. | |
The case continues. | The case continues. |