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21 July suspect 'meant no harm' | 21 July suspect 'meant no harm' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
One of the 21 July bomb plot suspects has told a court he did not intend to hurt anyone when he detonated a device on the London underground. | |
Yassin Omar, 26, from north London, admitted setting off the rucksack device in protest at the Iraq war. | Yassin Omar, 26, from north London, admitted setting off the rucksack device in protest at the Iraq war. |
But he told Woolwich Crown Court he did not want to kill himself or anyone else and expected the device to only make a "popping" noise on a Tube train. | |
Six men deny conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions in July 2005. | |
'Illegal war' | 'Illegal war' |
Mr Omar, the so-called Warren Street bomber, from New Southgate, insisted it "never crossed my mind" that anyone might be injured by the stunt. | |
He entered the witness box for the first time, the third defendant to give evidence - after co-defendant Hussain Osman decided against defending himself in court. | He entered the witness box for the first time, the third defendant to give evidence - after co-defendant Hussain Osman decided against defending himself in court. |
Mr Omar, who was seen fleeing London clad in a burka the day after the alleged attacks in 2005, said he intentionally set off the explosive. | Mr Omar, who was seen fleeing London clad in a burka the day after the alleged attacks in 2005, said he intentionally set off the explosive. |
He told the jury: "I intended the detonator to go off and only to make a popping noise. | He told the jury: "I intended the detonator to go off and only to make a popping noise. |
"It happened exactly as I expected. I thought (the device) would just make a noise and the only thing that could happen was that the rucksack might split." | "It happened exactly as I expected. I thought (the device) would just make a noise and the only thing that could happen was that the rucksack might split." |
I hoped that this would be televised, would be shown on TV and taken seriously and that would put pressure on the government Yassin Omar | |
The defendant, born in Somalia, appeared smartly dressed, wearing a dark grey suit and pink tie. | |
When asked to elaborate on why he was protesting against the war in Iraq, he said: "Because of the suffering of people and deaths of innocent people. | When asked to elaborate on why he was protesting against the war in Iraq, he said: "Because of the suffering of people and deaths of innocent people. |
"I hoped that this would be televised, would be shown on TV and taken seriously and that would put pressure on the government after they realised that people have gone to these lengths just to do a demonstration on Iraq. | "I hoped that this would be televised, would be shown on TV and taken seriously and that would put pressure on the government after they realised that people have gone to these lengths just to do a demonstration on Iraq. |
"In due course the public would be talking about it and put pressure on the government. | "In due course the public would be talking about it and put pressure on the government. |
"We hoped that the government would change its foreign policy and pull troops out of this illegal war." | "We hoped that the government would change its foreign policy and pull troops out of this illegal war." |
Asked if he set out to injure anyone, he said: "I did not intend to hurt nobody and didn't intend to kill myself." | Asked if he set out to injure anyone, he said: "I did not intend to hurt nobody and didn't intend to kill myself." |
Mr Omar and Mr Osman, 28, of no fixed address, are charged with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life. | Mr Omar and Mr Osman, 28, of no fixed address, are charged with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life. |
Their co-defendants are Muktar Said Ibrahim, 29, from Stoke Newington, north London, Ramzi Mohammed, 25, of North Kensington, west London, Adel Yahya, 24, of High Road, Tottenham, north London and Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 34, of no fixed address. | Their co-defendants are Muktar Said Ibrahim, 29, from Stoke Newington, north London, Ramzi Mohammed, 25, of North Kensington, west London, Adel Yahya, 24, of High Road, Tottenham, north London and Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 34, of no fixed address. |
All six deny the charges. | All six deny the charges. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |