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Man 'duped' over fertiliser store | Man 'duped' over fertiliser store |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A student has told a court he was duped into paying for the storage of more than half a ton of chemical fertiliser as part of an alleged terror campaign. | A student has told a court he was duped into paying for the storage of more than half a ton of chemical fertiliser as part of an alleged terror campaign. |
Nabeel Hussain, 21, is one of seven men on trial at London's Old Bailey accused of planning a UK-wide bombing campaign. | Nabeel Hussain, 21, is one of seven men on trial at London's Old Bailey accused of planning a UK-wide bombing campaign. |
He said he "thought it was sand" and gave his bank card to co-accused Omar Khyam to loan money for its storage. | He said he "thought it was sand" and gave his bank card to co-accused Omar Khyam to loan money for its storage. |
The seven men were arrested when the fertiliser was found in a west London depot in 2004. They deny all charges. | The seven men were arrested when the fertiliser was found in a west London depot in 2004. They deny all charges. |
Mr Hussain, who was 18 at the time of the conversation over the storage, said he had not known what fertiliser was, and had become suspicious only when a friend from university had told him it could be used for explosives. | |
It's against my beliefs and religion Nabeel HusseinAsked about a terror plan | It's against my beliefs and religion Nabeel HusseinAsked about a terror plan |
"I thought it was sand. Khyam explained to me that he did renovating work, doing up old houses. He was going to store it," Mr Hussain said. | "I thought it was sand. Khyam explained to me that he did renovating work, doing up old houses. He was going to store it," Mr Hussain said. |
He had met Mr Khyam through his cousin a month earlier, he told the court. | He had met Mr Khyam through his cousin a month earlier, he told the court. |
Mr Hussain said he had been told his money would be repaid in a month's time, but had not checked his account until his student loan had run out. | Mr Hussain said he had been told his money would be repaid in a month's time, but had not checked his account until his student loan had run out. |
He said after a visit to Access storage he had asked Mr Khyam what the bag contained and had been told it was fertiliser. | He said after a visit to Access storage he had asked Mr Khyam what the bag contained and had been told it was fertiliser. |
"It was the first time I had heard of it. I did not know what it was used for. I thought it was something to do with his work," he told the court. | |
Mr Hussain said he had referred to the fertiliser as fertilisation, and had asked a friend what it was. | Mr Hussain said he had referred to the fertiliser as fertilisation, and had asked a friend what it was. |
He added: "He said you can make explosives out of it. I was scared. I had never heard of it before." | He added: "He said you can make explosives out of it. I was scared. I had never heard of it before." |
Mr Hussain was asked by his counsel, Michael Mansfield QC, whether he had been involved in a plan to store something which could be converted into explosives to murder people in the UK. | Mr Hussain was asked by his counsel, Michael Mansfield QC, whether he had been involved in a plan to store something which could be converted into explosives to murder people in the UK. |
He replied: "I certainly was not. It's against my beliefs and religion. It was never something I was part of or I wanted to be part of." | He replied: "I certainly was not. It's against my beliefs and religion. It was never something I was part of or I wanted to be part of." |
Terror charges | Terror charges |
The prosecution alleges the men were part of a cell linked to al-Qaeda which was targeting utilities, the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, and the Ministry of Sound nightclub in London. | The prosecution alleges the men were part of a cell linked to al-Qaeda which was targeting utilities, the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, and the Ministry of Sound nightclub in London. |
Omar Khyam, 24; his brother Shujah Mahmood, 19; Waheed Mahmood, 34; and Jawad Akbar, 23, all from Crawley, Sussex; Salahuddin Amin, 31, from Luton, Bedfordshire; Anthony Garcia, 24, of Barkingside, east London; and Nabeel Hussain, 21, of Horley, Surrey, deny conspiring to cause explosions likely to endanger life between January 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004. | Omar Khyam, 24; his brother Shujah Mahmood, 19; Waheed Mahmood, 34; and Jawad Akbar, 23, all from Crawley, Sussex; Salahuddin Amin, 31, from Luton, Bedfordshire; Anthony Garcia, 24, of Barkingside, east London; and Nabeel Hussain, 21, of Horley, Surrey, deny conspiring to cause explosions likely to endanger life between January 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004. |
Mr Khyam, Mr Garcia and Mr Hussain deny a further charge under the Terrorism Act of possessing 1,300lb (600kg) of ammonium nitrate fertiliser for terrorism. | Mr Khyam, Mr Garcia and Mr Hussain deny a further charge under the Terrorism Act of possessing 1,300lb (600kg) of ammonium nitrate fertiliser for terrorism. |
Mr Khyam and Mr Mahmood also deny possessing aluminium powder for terrorism. | Mr Khyam and Mr Mahmood also deny possessing aluminium powder for terrorism. |
The trial was adjourned until Tuesday. |
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