Suicide bombers were urged to kill Tony Blair and Gordon Brown if the government did not meet a series of demands, a court has heard. A Briton "devoted to stirring up terrorism" allegedly issued a two-month deadline calling for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, and the release of all Muslim captives from Belmarsh Prison.
Ishaq Kanmi, 23, of Blackburn, Lancashire, was said to have decreed that if the ultimatums were not met then all political leaders, "especially Tony Blair and Gordon Brown", would be sought by "martyrdom seekers". Preston Crown Court was told Kanmi posted two messages which solicited the murders of the Prime Minister and his predecessor on a jihadi website.
Foremost of the prisoners he wanted to be released were convicted terrorists Abu Qatada and Abu Hamza, the jury was told. He wrote: "If the British Government fails to respond to our demands then the martyrdom seekers of the organisation of al-Qaeda in Britain will target Tony Blair and Gordon Brown." |