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Terror accused 'a wannabe bomber' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A jury in the trial of a student accused of terror offences has been told he was "a wannabe suicide bomber." | |
Prosecutor Brian McConnachie QC told the jury they should convict Mohammed Atif Siddique, 21, of three out of the four terror charges. | |
Mr Siddique, from Alva, Clackmannanshire, denies the terror charges and a breach of the peace. | |
His defence QC Donald Findlay will address the jury at the High Court in Glasgow later. | |
Mr McConnachie said in his closing speech: "This is not someone who is systematically carrying out research into Islamic politics and the difficulties facing Muslims in the Middle East, this is a wannabe suicide bomber." | |
Referring to the documents and videos allegedly found on Mr Siddique's computer and a compact disc discovered under a carpet in the family home, he said: "The whole ethos is to get the message across as to what people should be doing. | |
"It is saying if you are a Muslim you should be going to Jihad." | |
The people of Glasgow are aware of the serious crimes committed in the name of religion Brian McConnachie QC | |
Mr McConnachie told the jury it was very significant that Mr Siddique allegedly took the name Yah Yah Ayash as one of his aliases on web chatrooms. | |
He said Ayash was a bomb maker responsible for making the explosives used by Hamas suicide bombers. | |
Earlier, Mr McConnachie told the jury that "prejudices have to be placed aside" when considering their verdict. | |
The QC said: "Muslim extremists do not have a monopoly on intolerance, bigotry or hatred. | |
"Closer to home, the people of Glasgow are aware of the serious crimes committed in the name of religion. | "Closer to home, the people of Glasgow are aware of the serious crimes committed in the name of religion. |
"This case is not about white against Asian or Muslim against Christian." | "This case is not about white against Asian or Muslim against Christian." |
'Terrifying ends' | |
He said the case was about "intolerance, bigotry and hatred". | |
"It is about the terrifying ends people will go to in the name of religion," he said. | "It is about the terrifying ends people will go to in the name of religion," he said. |
"The colour of the skin and religion of Mr Siddique are irrelevant. | "The colour of the skin and religion of Mr Siddique are irrelevant. |
"Your views on the war in Iraq must also be placed aside." | "Your views on the war in Iraq must also be placed aside." |
The prosecutor also described the evidence against the accused as "circumstantial". | |
Mr McConnachie used a jigsaw analogy in that pieces fit together to "build a picture". | |
Mr McConnachie also referred to "radical Islamic material" said to have been accessed by Mr Siddique. | Mr McConnachie also referred to "radical Islamic material" said to have been accessed by Mr Siddique. |
'Motivate Jihad' | |
The QC told the jury: "It was a collection designed to motivate Jihad. | |
"This would be of use to terrorists and that there was no reasonable excuse for Mr Siddique to have this." | |
Mr Siddique was arrested at his family home in April 2006. | Mr Siddique was arrested at his family home in April 2006. |
He has been accused of possessing suspicious terrorism-related items including CDs and videos of weapons use, guerrilla tactics and bomb-making. | He has been accused of possessing suspicious terrorism-related items including CDs and videos of weapons use, guerrilla tactics and bomb-making. |
He has also been accused of collecting terrorist-related information, setting up websites showing how to make and use weapons and explosives, and circulating inflammatory terrorist publications. | He has also been accused of collecting terrorist-related information, setting up websites showing how to make and use weapons and explosives, and circulating inflammatory terrorist publications. |
A further charge of breach of the peace relates to claims that he showed students at Glasgow Metropolitan College images of suicide bombers and terrorist beheadings. | A further charge of breach of the peace relates to claims that he showed students at Glasgow Metropolitan College images of suicide bombers and terrorist beheadings. |
The trial, before Lord Carloway, continues. | The trial, before Lord Carloway, continues. |