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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK suspect 'key al-Qaeda member' | UK suspect 'key al-Qaeda member' |
| (1 day later) | |
| A British Muslim man was an important member of al-Qaeda with a terrorist contacts book that had sections written in invisible ink, a court has heard. | A British Muslim man was an important member of al-Qaeda with a terrorist contacts book that had sections written in invisible ink, a court has heard. |
| Rangzieb Ahmed, 33, of Manchester, denies directing terrorism and being a member of al-Qaeda. | |
| The prosecution at Manchester Crown Court alleged he was assisted by Habib Ahmed, 28, a city taxi driver. | The prosecution at Manchester Crown Court alleged he was assisted by Habib Ahmed, 28, a city taxi driver. |
| It is alleged Habib Ahmed, who denies all charges, travelled to Pakistan to receive terrorist training. | It is alleged Habib Ahmed, who denies all charges, travelled to Pakistan to receive terrorist training. |
| The trip is also said to have included explosives training. | The trip is also said to have included explosives training. |
| And the prosecution claims that Habib Ahmed's wife, Mehreen Haji, 27, sent £4,000 to fund his training. | And the prosecution claims that Habib Ahmed's wife, Mehreen Haji, 27, sent £4,000 to fund his training. |
| She is accused of two counts of arranging funding for the purposes of terrorism. | She is accused of two counts of arranging funding for the purposes of terrorism. |
| All three deny the charges against them. The trial is expected to last for three months. | All three deny the charges against them. The trial is expected to last for three months. |
| Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, said a "contact book for terrorists" was discovered in Habib Ahmed's baggage at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam about the time of Christmas 2005. | Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, said a "contact book for terrorists" was discovered in Habib Ahmed's baggage at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam about the time of Christmas 2005. |
| 'Al-Qaeda business' | 'Al-Qaeda business' |
| Mr Edis said: "The prosecution say that the book contains information of considerable importance to a terrorist because it has information that enables them to contact each other secretly and has some important phone numbers for terrorists - a contact book for terrorists." | Mr Edis said: "The prosecution say that the book contains information of considerable importance to a terrorist because it has information that enables them to contact each other secretly and has some important phone numbers for terrorists - a contact book for terrorists." |
| Rangzieb Ahmed and Habib Ahmed had just finished a meeting in Dubai on what was described as "important al-Qaeda business" when the book was discovered. | Rangzieb Ahmed and Habib Ahmed had just finished a meeting in Dubai on what was described as "important al-Qaeda business" when the book was discovered. |
| They flew back to the UK separately and it was en route at Schipol that the latter's baggage was checked without his knowledge. | They flew back to the UK separately and it was en route at Schipol that the latter's baggage was checked without his knowledge. |
| The court was also told Rangzieb Ahmed was born in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, but had spent most of his life outside his native country after becoming estranged from his family. | The court was also told Rangzieb Ahmed was born in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, but had spent most of his life outside his native country after becoming estranged from his family. |
| However, he occasionally returned to the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester during 2005 and 2006 when he was involved in directing terrorism, the court heard. | However, he occasionally returned to the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester during 2005 and 2006 when he was involved in directing terrorism, the court heard. |
| Books recovered | Books recovered |
| Mr Edis said that in April 2006 Habib Ahmed went to a terror training camp in Pakistan. | Mr Edis said that in April 2006 Habib Ahmed went to a terror training camp in Pakistan. |
| He was then arrested in the Cheetham Hill area in August of that year, where the "contact book" and two other related diaries he had brought from Dubai were discovered. | He was then arrested in the Cheetham Hill area in August of that year, where the "contact book" and two other related diaries he had brought from Dubai were discovered. |
| Earlier the court heard how Mr Ahmed and Ms Haji were married by the radical cleric Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, whose organisation al-Muhajiroun was "designed to propagate radical views of Islam in this country". | Earlier the court heard how Mr Ahmed and Ms Haji were married by the radical cleric Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, whose organisation al-Muhajiroun was "designed to propagate radical views of Islam in this country". |
| The court heard how a document was found at the couple's home that justified suicide bombings. | The court heard how a document was found at the couple's home that justified suicide bombings. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |