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'Bomber' admits carrying device | 'Bomber' admits carrying device |
(about 3 hours later) | |
One of the alleged 21 July bombers has admitted in court taking a "device" onto a London bus but said he did not intend to cause an explosion. | One of the alleged 21 July bombers has admitted in court taking a "device" onto a London bus but said he did not intend to cause an explosion. |
Giving evidence at Woolwich Crown Court Muktar Said Ibrahim, 29, said he had the device with him to protest against the plight of Muslims everywhere. | Giving evidence at Woolwich Crown Court Muktar Said Ibrahim, 29, said he had the device with him to protest against the plight of Muslims everywhere. |
His defence lawyer has already told the court he tested the devices beforehand to make sure they only went "pop". | His defence lawyer has already told the court he tested the devices beforehand to make sure they only went "pop". |
Six defendants deny conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions. | Six defendants deny conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions. |
Mr Ibrahim is the first of the six defendants - accused of being part of an extremist Muslim plot to explode bombs on London's transport network - to appear in the witness box. | Mr Ibrahim is the first of the six defendants - accused of being part of an extremist Muslim plot to explode bombs on London's transport network - to appear in the witness box. |
Dressed in trousers, a pale grey checked shirt and tie with a goatee and moustache he swore on the Koran before answering questions from his defence counsel George Carter-Stephenson. | Dressed in trousers, a pale grey checked shirt and tie with a goatee and moustache he swore on the Koran before answering questions from his defence counsel George Carter-Stephenson. |
'Not explosive' | 'Not explosive' |
He immediately conceded he was the man on the No 26 bus who was caught on CCTV apparently detonating a rucksack. | He immediately conceded he was the man on the No 26 bus who was caught on CCTV apparently detonating a rucksack. |
Mr Carter-Stephenson said: "Did you have - to describe it neutrally - a device with you?" | Mr Carter-Stephenson said: "Did you have - to describe it neutrally - a device with you?" |
Mr Ibrahim replied: "Yes." | Mr Ibrahim replied: "Yes." |
Mr Carter-Stephenson asked: "Did you intend or hope that that device would explode?" | Mr Carter-Stephenson asked: "Did you intend or hope that that device would explode?" |
The defendant said: "No." | The defendant said: "No." |
Mr Carter-Stephenson asked: "Was the device an improvised explosive device, in other words, was it to your knowledge capable of detonation?" | Mr Carter-Stephenson asked: "Was the device an improvised explosive device, in other words, was it to your knowledge capable of detonation?" |
Mr Ibrahim replied: "No." | Mr Ibrahim replied: "No." |
Counsel asked: "In a short sentence, can you help this jury as to why you had that device with you on July 21?" | Counsel asked: "In a short sentence, can you help this jury as to why you had that device with you on July 21?" |
He replied: "To protest against the plight of Muslims everywhere, especially in Iraq." | He replied: "To protest against the plight of Muslims everywhere, especially in Iraq." |
Mr Ibrahim, of Stoke Newington, north London, told the court he was born in Eritrea and moved to the UK with his family in 1990 to escape the war with Ethiopia. | Mr Ibrahim, of Stoke Newington, north London, told the court he was born in Eritrea and moved to the UK with his family in 1990 to escape the war with Ethiopia. |
Sudan trip | Sudan trip |
He said his family settled in north west London and he had lived in the UK ever since. | He said his family settled in north west London and he had lived in the UK ever since. |
He left school in 1994 with two GCSEs and went on to Harrow Weald College to study leisure and tourism, a course he did not finish. | He left school in 1994 with two GCSEs and went on to Harrow Weald College to study leisure and tourism, a course he did not finish. |
He met his co-accused Yassin Omar in 2000, he said. | He met his co-accused Yassin Omar in 2000, he said. |
He travelled to Sudan in January 2003, where he stayed for two months visiting relatives, the court heard. | He travelled to Sudan in January 2003, where he stayed for two months visiting relatives, the court heard. |
Asked if he engaged in anything in Sudan that could be described as jihadic or military training, he answered "no". | |
He denied telling anyone he had learned to fire or had ever used a rocket-propelled grenade. | He denied telling anyone he had learned to fire or had ever used a rocket-propelled grenade. |
Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, Hussein Osman, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Adel Yahya are also accused of plotting the failed attacks as part of an extremist Muslim plot. | Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, Hussein Osman, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Adel Yahya are also accused of plotting the failed attacks as part of an extremist Muslim plot. |