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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hoax bomb suspect blames boredom | Hoax bomb suspect blames boredom |
| (2 days later) | |
| A 22-year-old man accused of leaving a fake bomb on a bus did it because he was bored, a court has been told. | A 22-year-old man accused of leaving a fake bomb on a bus did it because he was bored, a court has been told. |
| Nicholas Roddis allegedly left the "device", which included wires and a clock, on a bus in Rotherham, while he was wearing a false beard. | |
| Mr Roddis told Leeds Crown Court he had worn the disguise "for a laugh" and had not thought through the consequences. | Mr Roddis told Leeds Crown Court he had worn the disguise "for a laugh" and had not thought through the consequences. |
| The "bomb" was a bag of sugar from Tesco and a clock from eBay. He denies various terrorism-related charges. | The "bomb" was a bag of sugar from Tesco and a clock from eBay. He denies various terrorism-related charges. |
| Mr Roddis, of Reedham Drive, Rotherham, said he had made a similar device before when he had been at school. | Mr Roddis, of Reedham Drive, Rotherham, said he had made a similar device before when he had been at school. |
| 'Practical joke' | |
| "It was just a practical joke. I was bored, I'd lost my job and had nothing to do," he told the court. | "It was just a practical joke. I was bored, I'd lost my job and had nothing to do," he told the court. |
| "I never really thought of the consequences of it," he added. | "I never really thought of the consequences of it," he added. |
| He told the court that passengers and even the driver of the bus had laughed at his disguise. | He told the court that passengers and even the driver of the bus had laughed at his disguise. |
| But the bus was evacuated after Mr Roddis left the "bomb" on the bus and a passenger opened it. | But the bus was evacuated after Mr Roddis left the "bomb" on the bus and a passenger opened it. |
| It included a note written in crude Arabic. | It included a note written in crude Arabic. |
| It said: "There is no God but Allah. Mohammed is the messenger of Allah. Allah the Greatest. Allah the Greatest. Allah the Greatest. Britain must be punished." | It said: "There is no God but Allah. Mohammed is the messenger of Allah. Allah the Greatest. Allah the Greatest. Allah the Greatest. Britain must be punished." |
| It was signed "The [al-Qaeda] organisation in Iraq". | It was signed "The [al-Qaeda] organisation in Iraq". |
| Library computer | Library computer |
| Mr Roddis told the court he had used a translating tool on the internet. | |
| "I was on the internet in the library eight hours a day and I was bored," he added. | "I was on the internet in the library eight hours a day and I was bored," he added. |
| Paul Watson QC, defending, asked him: "Was it your intention at that time, either then or at a some future time, to do something to cause somebody serious harm or cause serious damage?" | Paul Watson QC, defending, asked him: "Was it your intention at that time, either then or at a some future time, to do something to cause somebody serious harm or cause serious damage?" |
| Mr Roddis replied: "No. Not at all." | Mr Roddis replied: "No. Not at all." |
| Mr Roddis denies one charge of placing a hoax bomb on a bus, one of engaging in the preparation of acts of terrorism, six counts of possessing an article for terrorism purposes and three of collecting information useful for terrorist purposes. | Mr Roddis denies one charge of placing a hoax bomb on a bus, one of engaging in the preparation of acts of terrorism, six counts of possessing an article for terrorism purposes and three of collecting information useful for terrorist purposes. |
| The case was adjourned until Monday. | The case was adjourned until Monday. |