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/uk/7674350.stm

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

Version 1 Version 2
Firefighter 'found bomb in car' Firefighter 'found bomb in car'
(about 4 hours later)
A firefighter has told a jury how he discovered a car bomb parked outside a busy London nightclub.A firefighter has told a jury how he discovered a car bomb parked outside a busy London nightclub.
Andrew Shaw told Woolwich Crown Court he removed a gas cylinder which had been emitting vapour from inside an empty green Mercedes.Andrew Shaw told Woolwich Crown Court he removed a gas cylinder which had been emitting vapour from inside an empty green Mercedes.
He then noticed other bomb components like mobile phones, shrapnel and nails.He then noticed other bomb components like mobile phones, shrapnel and nails.
Bilal Abdulla, 29, from Paisley, and Mohammed Asha, 27, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, deny conspiracies to murder and to cause explosions. Doctors Bilal Abdulla, 29, from Paisley, and Mohammed Asha, 27, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, deny conspiracies to murder and to cause explosions.
Both were doctors employed by the NHS. Both were employed by the NHS.
The court heard how Soho fire station's blue watch crew was called to Tiger Tiger in Haymarket at 1.41am on 29 June last year. The court heard how Soho fire station's blue watch crew was called to Tiger in Haymarket at 1.41am on 29 June last year.
About 550 customers were in the club at the time.About 550 customers were in the club at the time.
Mr Shaw said that on opening the vehicle he saw paraphernalia including a lamp shade and quilt strewn across the back seat. Strong smell
Brute force Mr Shaw said he was surprised to find the car unlocked.
He said: "My first reaction was surprise that it was open. I could smell gas and was trying to work out what it was. He said: "I could smell gas and was trying to work out what it was. It was coming from between the two seats. It was quite strong."
"It was coming from between the two seats. It was quite strong." Inside he found the gas cylinder wedged between the driver's seat and the rear footwall.
Inside he found the gas cylinder wedged between the driver's seat and the rear footwell.
He said: "I decided to use brute force and just yank it out."He said: "I decided to use brute force and just yank it out."
However, after taking out the cylinder and turning off the valve he suddenly saw the shrapnel, nails and bits of metal alongside another cylinder in the footwell. However, after taking out the cylinder and turning off the valve he suddenly saw the shrapnel, nails and bits of metal alongside another cylinder in the footwall.
"It's at those moments everything falls into place in a matter of seconds," said Mr Shaw. "I saw two mobile phones and wires coming from the phones. At that point it doesn't take long for the penny to drop. I just thought, it's a bomb or improvised device," said Mr Shaw.
It looked like something was venting from inside the car, I thought I better get the experts down Andrew Meyer,Ambulance technician
"I saw two mobile phones and wires coming from the phones. At that point it doesn't take long for the penny to drop. I just thought, it's a bomb or improvised device."
The bomb squad was immediately called out, Mr Shaw said.The bomb squad was immediately called out, Mr Shaw said.
In a written statement, explosives officer Paul Humphrey, who made the device safe, said he found two Nokia phones between the two front seats with attached wires, plus two cylinders. In a written statement, explosives officer Paul Humphrey, who made the device safe, said he found two Nokia phones between the two front seats with attached wires, plus two cylinders.Mr Ahmed and Dr Abdulla allegedly took rickshaws after planting the bombs
Firefighters had been alerted to the vehicle by an ambulance technician who had been treating a man who had injured an ankle falling down stairs in the club.
Andrew Meyer had noticed something odd about the car and took a closer look.
He said: "It looked like something was venting from inside the car, I thought I better get the experts down."
Detonators failed
It is alleged Dr Abdulla, 29, parked the Mercedes outside the nightclub.It is alleged Dr Abdulla, 29, parked the Mercedes outside the nightclub.
A second car bomb left by Kafeel Ahmed, 28, in nearby Cockspur Street also failed to go off because the mobile phone detonators did not work. A second car bomb left by Kael Ahmed, 28, in nearby Cockspur Street also failed to go off because the mobile phone detonators did not work.
The following day Mr Ahmed drove a jeep into a terminal building at Glasgow airport. He later died from burns. Dr Abdulla is alleged to have been a passenger in the vehicle. A parking attendant had given the vehicle a ticket for being parked in a bus lane, unaware of the bomb, the court heard.
It was later towed to a car pound before police linked it to the Haymarket device and it was rendered safe by an explosives officer.
Police used a remote device to smash a window and a robot arm to peel off the blanket on the rear seats.
The jury was shown CCTV stills allegedly showing Abdulla carrying a rucksack and Ahmed clutching a holdall, walking separately through West End streets and taking rickshaws after planting the bombs.
Footage which the prosecution claims shows the men checking into a hotel in Stratford, east London, later that night, was also played in court.
The following day, Mr Ahmed drove a jeep into a terminal building at Glasgow airport. He later died from burns. Dr Abdulla is alleged to have been a passenger in the vehicle.
Prosecutors claim Dr Abdulla and Mr Ahmed made the three car bombs. Dr Asha is accused of providing money and advice behind the scenes.Prosecutors claim Dr Abdulla and Mr Ahmed made the three car bombs. Dr Asha is accused of providing money and advice behind the scenes.
The trial continues.The trial continues.