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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 21/7 accused in Muslim bias claim | 21/7 accused in Muslim bias claim |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| One of the alleged 21 July bombers said he was only accused of being a suicide bomber because he was Muslim, a court has heard. | |
| Yassin Omar, 26, said the "bomb" he detonated in a rucksack at Warren Street Tube station in London was a protest against the Iraq war. | Yassin Omar, 26, said the "bomb" he detonated in a rucksack at Warren Street Tube station in London was a protest against the Iraq war. |
| "Because I am Muslim, straight away that meant I was a suicide bomber," he told Woolwich Crown Court. | "Because I am Muslim, straight away that meant I was a suicide bomber," he told Woolwich Crown Court. |
| Six men deny attacking London's transport network on 21 July 2005. | Six men deny attacking London's transport network on 21 July 2005. |
| Cross examining him, Nigel Sweeney QC, prosecuting, responded by saying: "That is total and utter tripe." | Cross examining him, Nigel Sweeney QC, prosecuting, responded by saying: "That is total and utter tripe." |
| Mr Omar replied: "That is the truth. There is a man sending mail letter bombs and everyone says it is only to cause a bit of harm and to scare people. | Mr Omar replied: "That is the truth. There is a man sending mail letter bombs and everyone says it is only to cause a bit of harm and to scare people. |
| "But if you are Muslim, you must be a terrorist and wanting to kill people." | "But if you are Muslim, you must be a terrorist and wanting to kill people." |
| Fabricated alibi | Fabricated alibi |
| Mr Omar was referring to a wave of letter bombs sent across the country at the start of the year, which he said had not been taken as seriously as the events he was accused of being connected with. | Mr Omar was referring to a wave of letter bombs sent across the country at the start of the year, which he said had not been taken as seriously as the events he was accused of being connected with. |
| He also admitted much of what he told police after his arrest on 27 July was fabricated, saying that he had made up a fictional character called Hassan in order to provide an alibi for the night of 20 July and the morning of 21 July. | He also admitted much of what he told police after his arrest on 27 July was fabricated, saying that he had made up a fictional character called Hassan in order to provide an alibi for the night of 20 July and the morning of 21 July. |
| He said: "Hassan was a complete invention. I told the police what they wanted to hear. I was scared, I thought they might torture me if I did not co-operate. | He said: "Hassan was a complete invention. I told the police what they wanted to hear. I was scared, I thought they might torture me if I did not co-operate. |
| "I did not know what they were going to do with me. Most of the time I was not telling the truth." | "I did not know what they were going to do with me. Most of the time I was not telling the truth." |
| Mr Omar, from New Southgate, north London, is one of six men who all deny conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions. | Mr Omar, from New Southgate, north London, is one of six men who all deny conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions. |
| He is charged along with Muktar Said Ibrahim, 29, from Stoke Newington, north London; Ramzi Mohammed, 25, of North Kensington, west London; Hussain Osman, 28, of no fixed address; Adel Yahya, 24, of High Road, Tottenham, north London; and Mr Asiedu, 34, of no fixed address. | He is charged along with Muktar Said Ibrahim, 29, from Stoke Newington, north London; Ramzi Mohammed, 25, of North Kensington, west London; Hussain Osman, 28, of no fixed address; Adel Yahya, 24, of High Road, Tottenham, north London; and Mr Asiedu, 34, of no fixed address. |