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British terror suspects park film released
A film showing two alleged terrorists crawling through a park in camouflage gear has been released to the public. The video, made by a group who called themselves The Blackburn Resistance, was al-Qaeda propaganda destined to be distributed abroad, a court heard. Abbas Iqbal, 24, his brother Ilyas Iqbal, 23, and Muhammed Ali Ahmad, 26, are standing trial charged with terror offences at Manchester Crown Court. All three deny preparing for acts of terrorism. Abbas Iqbal also denies disseminating terrorist publications and possessing documents likely to be useful to a terrorist. Ilyas Iqbal pleaded not guilty to two counts of possessing documents likely to be useful to a terrorist. The video was among material found in a mobile phone storage card discovered in the suitcase of Abbas Iqbal when he was arrested trying to board a flight from Manchester Airport to northern Europe in August 2008. Mr Aqbal was said to have filmed the duo - one of whom was allegedly carrying a rifle as he rustled through the park - training in Blackburn, Lancashire. At court on Friday, Edward Brown QC, prosecuting, said they were "intoxicated by the evil of terrorism" as they prepared to join or carry out violent jihad. He said the "promotional collage" for The Blackburn Resistance was among material which Abbas Iqbal and another alleged extremist, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had intended to use to radicalise others. The video was introduced by a voice stating: "They are fighting against oppression, they are The Blackburn Resistance", before it showed two of the group crawling through woodland and across a path in the park. In the background, words in a foreign language chanted: "I am the armour for those who believe in the unity of Allah. I am the fire against the aggressor. I am the machine gun against the one who starts fighting. I am the one whose sun is shining. Over my day and my pride." Police discovered extreme material Mr Ahmad had written, extremist speeches, martyrdom videos and mobile phone images of executions when they searched his home in Whalley Range, Manchester. A further camcorder video tape allegedly showed Mr Iqbal holding a young boy and raising a machete. Playing the tape in court on Friday Mr Brown told the jury: "It is plainly a joke and he obviously has no intention of hurting the boy." The boy, aged about eight, is on camera in a room with two girls as Mr Iqbal holds the weapon and, in Urdu, says: "This is what I am going to do to somebody. God willing, when I find a Kuffar (non-believer), this I show, I am going to take his head off." Posted by: ryuge 2010-02-24 |
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