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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Jury sees 'terror training' video | Jury sees 'terror training' video |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Footage from an alleged UK terrorist training camp shows men practising with sticks in place of real guns, a trial has been told. | Footage from an alleged UK terrorist training camp shows men practising with sticks in place of real guns, a trial has been told. |
| A British Army officer told Woolwich Crown Court that the drills were similar to those of al-Qaeda insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. | A British Army officer told Woolwich Crown Court that the drills were similar to those of al-Qaeda insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| He said the mobile phone footage, shot in the New Forest, Hampshire, was also reminiscent of basic Army training. | He said the mobile phone footage, shot in the New Forest, Hampshire, was also reminiscent of basic Army training. |
| Five men all deny charges of being involved in setting up training camps. | Five men all deny charges of being involved in setting up training camps. |
| Among them is Mohammed Hamid, 50, who prosecutors say set up camps attended by the 21 July bomb plotters. | Among them is Mohammed Hamid, 50, who prosecutors say set up camps attended by the 21 July bomb plotters. |
| The other men are Mousa Brown, Kibley da Costa, Mohammed Al-Figari and Kader Ahmed. | The other men are Mousa Brown, Kibley da Costa, Mohammed Al-Figari and Kader Ahmed. |
| The trial heard that Mr Da Costa, Mr Hamid and Mr Ahmed all took part in the New Forest camp, but the other two defendants did not. | |
| 'Weapon system' | 'Weapon system' |
| The jurors heard that several short clips were recovered from a computer owned by one of the five men. | The jurors heard that several short clips were recovered from a computer owned by one of the five men. |
| They were told that the group travelled to the New Forest on 28 April 2006 for a four-day camp. It was one of a series of trips including paintballing, camping in the Lake District and visits to an Islamic centre in East Sussex. | They were told that the group travelled to the New Forest on 28 April 2006 for a four-day camp. It was one of a series of trips including paintballing, camping in the Lake District and visits to an Islamic centre in East Sussex. |
| The British officer, referred to as Soldier A, said the activities shown were similar in some ways to basic Army training. | The British officer, referred to as Soldier A, said the activities shown were similar in some ways to basic Army training. |
| THE CHARGES Mohammed Hamid is charged under the Terrorism Act 2006 with providing weapons and terrorist training. He faces additional charges of soliciting murder, and one charge of possessing terrorist documentsMousa Brown is accused of providing and receiving weapons trainingKibley da Costa is charged under the Terrorism Act 2006 with providing terrorist training and with attending terrorist training campsMohammed Al-Figari is charged under the Terrorism Act 2006 with attending terrorist training campsKader Ahmed is charged under the Terrorism Act 2006 with attending terrorist training camps | |
| He drew attention to one particular image which showed a man identified as Mr Da Costa bouncing on his knees between two positions while holding a large stick in front of him. | |
| "I have seen that used as a method of carrying a weapon system," Soldier A said. | "I have seen that used as a method of carrying a weapon system," Soldier A said. |
| "It is not something that is taught by the British army. I have seen it used by insurgents while in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan. | |
| "It is a favoured position of insurgents and Taliban." | "It is a favoured position of insurgents and Taliban." |
| Prosecutor David Farrell QC then asked him: "With what type of weapon?" | Prosecutor David Farrell QC then asked him: "With what type of weapon?" |
| He replied: "An AK-47." | He replied: "An AK-47." |
| Soldier A served as an infantry platoon commander on three active tours and now works as a British Army instructor. | Soldier A served as an infantry platoon commander on three active tours and now works as a British Army instructor. |
| He told the court that so-called "leopard crawling" shown in the footage might be used to approach an enemy, while wrestling and other drills seen could improve agility. | He told the court that so-called "leopard crawling" shown in the footage might be used to approach an enemy, while wrestling and other drills seen could improve agility. |
| 'Extreme' group | |
| The court also heard evidence from an undercover police officer who infiltrated the group claiming he wanted to convert to Islam. | |
| Mohammed Hamid is the alleged ringleader of the group | |
| He attended a number of meetings at Mr Hamid's home in Clapton, east London, and eventually a number of the alleged training camps. | |
| He told the court about a conversation he had with Mr Hamid's co-defendant, Mr da Costa, during a car journey before the New Forest camp. | |
| "He said the group were extreme but it was the right way to be," the officer said. | |
| Police hid a bugging device in Mr Hamid's home in September 2005. | |
| In one recorded conversation played to the court, he is heard telling a group of men: "Remember this, Allah has turned around and said every Muslim should be fully trained. | |
| "He should be able to take on two kuffar [non-believers], right, he should be ready for jihad." | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |