This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/6991074.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Terror accused 'a wannabe bomber' Terror jury Islamophobia warning
(about 2 hours later)
A jury in the trial of a student accused of terror offences has been told he was "a wannabe suicide bomber." A jury in a three-week terror trial has been warned not to convict the accused through a "fear or alarm" of Islam.
Prosecutor Brian McConnachie QC told the jury they should convict Mohammed Atif Siddique, 21, of three out of the four terror charges. Donald Findlay QC, defence counsel for Mohammed Atif Siddique, told the High Court in Glasgow that his client was merely researching Islamic terrorism.
Mr Siddique, from Alva, Clackmannanshire, denies the terror charges and a breach of the peace. The 21-year-old, from Alva in Clackmannnanshire, denies four terror charges and a breach of the peace.
His defence QC Donald Findlay will address the jury at the High Court in Glasgow later. The prosecution had earlier said Mr Siddique was not a researcher but "a wannabe suicide bomber".
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." In his closing speech, Advocate Depute Brian McConnachie QC referred to extremist material allegedly found on Mr Siddique's computer and dismissed the suggestion that he was carrying out research.
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. He told the jury: "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."
"It is saying if you are a Muslim you should be going to Jihad." This case is about intolerance, bigotry and hatred Brian McConnachie QCAdvocate Depute
The people of Glasgow are aware of the serious crimes committed in the name of religion Brian McConnachie QC Mr McConnachie also told the jury to put aside any prejudices when considering their verdict.
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: "Muslim extremists do not have a monopoly on intolerance, bigotry or hatred.
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 - it is about intolerance, bigotry and hatred."
'Terrifying ends' In his closing speech, Mr Findlay attacked a website run by terrorist expert Evan Kohlmann - who had given evidence against Mr Siddique.
He said the case was about "intolerance, bigotry and hatred". The QC claimed that material on that website - such as the beheading of a US hostage - was the "most horrific ever shown to a jury".
"It is about the terrifying ends people will go to in the name of religion," he said. He said the content was "worse" than that said to have been accessed by Mr Siddique.
"The colour of the skin and religion of Mr Siddique are irrelevant. You the jury have to be satisfied that the material he had was for a terrorist attack Donald Findlay QCDefence Counsel
"Your views on the war in Iraq must also be placed aside." He said: "Is it not legitimate that Mr Siddique can find out why young Muslim men like him act the way they do?
The prosecutor also described the evidence against the accused as "circumstantial". "It would not matter if he had 100 times the amount of material he had.
Mr McConnachie used a jigsaw analogy in that pieces fit together to "build a picture". "You the jury have to be satisfied that it was for a terrorist attack."
Mr McConnachie also referred to "radical Islamic material" said to have been accessed by Mr Siddique. Mr Findlay said his client had "said things that are distasteful".
'Motivate Jihad' "However, that does not make him a suicide bomber," he added.
The QC told the jury: "It was a collection designed to motivate Jihad. Mr Siddique has been accused of possessing suspicious terrorism-related items including CDs and videos of weapons use, guerrilla tactics and bomb-making.
"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.
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 jury is expected to retire to consider their verdict on Thursday, after hearing judge Lord Carloway's summing up.