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21/7 components 'for cosmetics' 21/7 accused breaks down in court
(20 minutes later)
A man accused of involvement in an alleged plot to bomb London has told a jury he believed chemicals were being bought to be turned into cosmetics. A man on trial over an alleged plot to attack London broke down in tears as he recalled the moment he believed he was being asked to be a suicide bomber.
The prosecution claim hydrogen peroxide was a component of home-made devices to be set off on 21 July 2005. Manfo Asiedu told Woolwich Crown Court he became "terrified" when shown how to detonate a rucksack device.
But Manfo Asiedu, 34, told Woolwich Crown Court he thought they would be used for goods sold on a market stall run by co-defendant Muktar Ibrahim. Co-defendant Muktar Ibrahim has claimed the plan was only to set off fake bombs on 21 July 2005 as part of a protest.
Mr Asiedu, Mr Ibrahim and four others deny conspiracy to cause explosions. Mr Asiedu, Mr Ibrahim and four other men deny conspiracy to cause explosions and conspiracy to murder.
They also deny conspiracy to murder.
The other men on trial with Mr Asiedu, of no fixed abode, and Mr Ibrahim, 29, of Stoke Newington, north London, are: Ramzi Mohammed, 25 and Yassin Omar, 26, of New Southgate, north London; Hussein Osman 28, also of no fixed address; and Adel Yahya, 24, of Tottenham, north London.The other men on trial with Mr Asiedu, of no fixed abode, and Mr Ibrahim, 29, of Stoke Newington, north London, are: Ramzi Mohammed, 25 and Yassin Omar, 26, of New Southgate, north London; Hussein Osman 28, also of no fixed address; and Adel Yahya, 24, of Tottenham, north London.
The prosecution have alleged the men wanted to target London's transport network as part of an extremist Muslim plot. The prosecution have alleged the men set out to target London's transport network as part of an extremist Muslim plot but the devices failed to successfully detonate.
Mr Asiedu, who is said by the prosecution to have lost his nerve and dumped his device, has said he was not a "fanatic".
He told the court he left the device he was given in a west London park as he "just wanted to get rid of it".
He said Mr Ibrahim had told him the devices would "not hurt anyone".
This was my belief, that this was going to be a suicide bombing Manfo Asiedu
He told the jury: "It didn't make sense to me. I didn't know whether this was hoax or real or anything to do with terrorists.
"But I didn't want anything where the police got involved in it.
"I thought: 'I don't want to listen no more. I have heard enough. I just don't want to have anything to do with it."
'Extremist videos''Extremist videos'
Mr Asiedu, who is said to have lost his nerve and dumped his device, has told the court he was not a "fanatic" and not involved in any planning. On his second day of giving evidence, Mr Asiedu confirmed he had bought some of the hydrogen peroxide the prosecution say was a component of the bombs along with chapatti flour, acetone and acid.
On his second day of giving evidence, Mr Asiedu broke down in tears in the witness box as he recalled the moment he believed he was being asked to be a suicide bomber.
He said he had only realised what he was being asked to do on the same day the alleged plan was to be carried out.
He told the court: "I wanted to live. I wanted to have a good life. I wanted to support my family. It is just something that I have never thought of in my life."
I just thought they are those kind of people that will exploit you in the name of Islam Manfo Asiedu
Mr Asiedu confirmed he had bought some of the hydrogen peroxide.
However, he said this was at the request of Mr Omar, who had provided him with a place to stay.However, he said this was at the request of Mr Omar, who had provided him with a place to stay.
He said he felt increasingly put upon but when he complained about buying so many chemicals was told by Mr Omar he was helping a fellow Muslim. Mr Asiedu told the court he thought chemicals were for cosmetics
Asiedu told the court: "I just thought they are those kind of people that will exploit you in the name of Islam to do what they want to do." He told the jury he came to believe the hydrogen peroxide was to be turned into cosmetics for a market stall run by Mr Ibrahim.
He went on to deny having watched extremist videos showing beheadings and instructions on how to be a suicide bomber found by police at the flat where he was living. At one point, Mr Asiedu needed several minutes to compose himself in the witness box.
Asked by his counsel, Stephen Kamlish QC, whether he had seen the films, Mr Asiedu said: "No. Mostly, I didn't play videos at Curtis House. I didn't even watch TV. I'm so tired I just go to sleep." He broke down after telling the court of how Mr Ibrahim demonstrated the rucksack device on the morning of 21 July 2005 - two weeks after suicide bombers struck in London on 7 July 2005.
The trial continues. "He started to explain for the first time as if he has been talking to me before," Mr Asiedu told the court.
"I was waiting for him to tell me if this was a suicide bombing or not.
"This was my belief, that this was going to be a suicide bombing because it just happened two weeks ago."
He told the court: "I wanted to live. I wanted to have a good life. I wanted to support my family. It is just something that I have never thought of in my life."
Earlier, Mr Asiedu denied having watched extremist videos found by police at the flat where he was living showing beheadings and instructions on how to be a suicide bomber.
The trial was adjourned until Thursday.