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Briton denies Commons bomb plot Parliament bomb plot 'just talk'
(about 2 hours later)
A British man accused of a fertiliser bomb plot has denied to an Old Bailey jury that he intended to blow up MPs in the Houses of Parliament.A British man accused of a fertiliser bomb plot has denied to an Old Bailey jury that he intended to blow up MPs in the Houses of Parliament.
Omar Khyam, 24, from West Sussex, said he had talked about dropping a bomb during prime ministers' questions. Omar Khyam, 24, from West Sussex, said he had talked about dropping a bomb during prime minister's questions.
But he said it was "just talk" and that there was no plan to carry it out.But he said it was "just talk" and that there was no plan to carry it out.
He was responding to claims by Mohammed Babar, a prosecution witness and alleged accomplice, that Mr Khyam was keen to carry out operations in the UK.He was responding to claims by Mohammed Babar, a prosecution witness and alleged accomplice, that Mr Khyam was keen to carry out operations in the UK.
Mr Khyam said that while watching television in Pakistan in 2003 he had chatted about bombing the US and Britain.Mr Khyam said that while watching television in Pakistan in 2003 he had chatted about bombing the US and Britain.
But he said it was not a serious discussion, rather a response to items in the news.But he said it was not a serious discussion, rather a response to items in the news.
He said: "I remember I was watching prime minister's questions on television. I said 'Imagine if you dropped a bomb right there and then, you would take out all the MPs'."He said: "I remember I was watching prime minister's questions on television. I said 'Imagine if you dropped a bomb right there and then, you would take out all the MPs'."
He said it was not a serious proposition or a plan he had been working on.He said it was not a serious proposition or a plan he had been working on.
Training denialsTraining denials
Mr Khyam, who is from Crawley, also denied being trained in explosives or poisons during a trip to Pakistan. But he said he had met people who could have been described as al-Qaeda.Mr Khyam, who is from Crawley, also denied being trained in explosives or poisons during a trip to Pakistan. But he said he had met people who could have been described as al-Qaeda.
He also denied having explosives training in Pakistan or watching experiments with bombs.He also denied having explosives training in Pakistan or watching experiments with bombs.
Mr Khyam said he brought 10 sachets of aluminium powder to the UK after an uncle asked him for aluminium paint.Mr Khyam said he brought 10 sachets of aluminium powder to the UK after an uncle asked him for aluminium paint.
He had placed it in a garden shed and thought his mother must have put it in a biscuit tin and put it in plastic bags because it was leaking. He had placed it in a garden shed and thought his mother must have put it in a biscuit tin and in plastic bags because it was leaking.
The powder, which the prosecution say would have been used as a component of an explosive, was probably placed by her outside the shed where it was found by police, he said.The powder, which the prosecution say would have been used as a component of an explosive, was probably placed by her outside the shed where it was found by police, he said.
Mr Babar, an American citizen, is said to have conspired with the defendants.Mr Babar, an American citizen, is said to have conspired with the defendants.
He previously pleaded guilty to terrorism offences in the US and, according to the prosecutor, "has an insight as an insider into the events and plans which an outsider could not have".He previously pleaded guilty to terrorism offences in the US and, according to the prosecutor, "has an insight as an insider into the events and plans which an outsider could not have".
Mr Khyam and six others deny conspiring with a Canadian to cause explosions.Mr Khyam and six others deny conspiring with a Canadian to cause explosions.
'Weapons training''Weapons training'
Mr Khyam is the first of the seven Britons accused of the plot to give evidence in their trial.Mr Khyam is the first of the seven Britons accused of the plot to give evidence in their trial.
On Thursday, he admitted travelling to Pakistan in 2000 for guerrilla training in weapons and reconnaissance tactics.On Thursday, he admitted travelling to Pakistan in 2000 for guerrilla training in weapons and reconnaissance tactics.
Six defendants were arrested in March 2004 when fertiliser was found stored in a west London depot.Six defendants were arrested in March 2004 when fertiliser was found stored in a west London depot.
It is alleged they had al-Qaeda links and discussed bombing targets including pubs, nightclubs and the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent between 1 January 2001 and 31 March 2004.It is alleged they had al-Qaeda links and discussed bombing targets including pubs, nightclubs and the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent between 1 January 2001 and 31 March 2004.
Mr Khyam, his younger brother Shujah-Ud-Din Mahmood, 18, and Waheed Mahmood, 33, from Crawley, West Sussex, along with Jawad Akbar, 22, from Crawley and Uxbridge, Anthony Garcia, 27, from Ilford, east London, Nabeel Hussain, 20, from Horley, Surrey, and Salahuddin Amin, 30, from Luton, Bedfordshire, are accused of conspiring to cause an explosion likely to endanger life contrary to section 3 (1)(a) of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.Mr Khyam, his younger brother Shujah-Ud-Din Mahmood, 18, and Waheed Mahmood, 33, from Crawley, West Sussex, along with Jawad Akbar, 22, from Crawley and Uxbridge, Anthony Garcia, 27, from Ilford, east London, Nabeel Hussain, 20, from Horley, Surrey, and Salahuddin Amin, 30, from Luton, Bedfordshire, are accused of conspiring to cause an explosion likely to endanger life contrary to section 3 (1)(a) of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.
Mr Khyam, who has also lived in Slough, Mr Garcia and Mr Hussain are also charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 of possessing an article for terrorism - namely 600kg of ammonium nitrate fertiliser between 5 November, 2003 and 31 March, 2004.Mr Khyam, who has also lived in Slough, Mr Garcia and Mr Hussain are also charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 of possessing an article for terrorism - namely 600kg of ammonium nitrate fertiliser between 5 November, 2003 and 31 March, 2004.
Brothers Mr Khyam and Mr Mahmood also deny having aluminium powder, which is an ingredient in explosives, between the said dates.Brothers Mr Khyam and Mr Mahmood also deny having aluminium powder, which is an ingredient in explosives, between the said dates.