00:01:44
ITN
Court shown martyrdom video
Court shown martyrdom video
A martyrdom video recorded by a man accused of plotting to blow up passenger jets, has been played to Woolwich Crown Court.Prosecutors said Umar Islam, 29, recorded the video, which was found in the back of a car owned by a man accused of being the ringleader of the alleged conspiracy.The full 19-minute video was played to the jury for the first time. It showed Islam wearing a black and white checked headscarf and paying tribute to Taliban leader Mullah Omar and al-Qaeda's Osama bin Laden.Speaking in front of a black flag covered in Arabic writing, he said Allah "loves us to die and kill in his path".He said: "To Mullah Omar and Sheikh Osama and the brothers, keep on going, keep on remaining firm, but truly you have inspired many of the Muslims and you have inspired me personally to follow the true path of the prophet."Islam is one of eight men on trial accused of conspiring to murder thousands by exploding home-made liquid bombs on aircraft. They deny the offences.Prosecutors said six of the defendants recorded suicide videos outlining their hatred of the West and threatening further attacks.The videos were discovered in a car belonging to Assad Sarwar, who prosecutors said had been stockpiling bomb-making materials.During his speech, Islam pointed his finger at the camera and repeatedly checked notes on his lap.The alleged leader of the gang, Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 27, was present and asked questions from behind the camera.Islam said: "This is from Umar Islam, the son of Islam, to the people of the world, to let you know the reasons for this action which Inshallah [God willing] I am going to undertake."This is an obligation on me as a Muslim to wage Jihad against the Kuffar [non-believers]."The defendants are: Ali, also known as Ahmed Ali Khan, 27, of Prospect Hill, Walthamstow; Sarwar, 27, of Walton Drive, High Wycombe; Tanvir Hussain, 27, of Nottingham Road, Leyton, east London; Mohammed Gulzar, 26, of Priory Road, Barking; Ibrahim Savant, 27, of Denver Road, Stoke Newington, north London; Arafat Waheed Khan, 26, of Farnan Avenue, Walthamstow; Waheed Zaman, 23, of Queen's Road, Walthamstow; and Islam, aka Brian Young, 29, of Bushey Road, Plaistow, east London.
ITN | April 10, 2008
