BA worker denies plot to blow up plane to America

Court told Islamicist sent encrypted emails to al-Qaida groups and sought martyrdom

An Islamist secured a job as a British Airways computer expert and conspired with a radical preacher in an attempt to blow up a plane bound for America, a court in London was told yesterday.

Rajib Karim, 31, shared details of his BA contacts in encrypted emails with al-Qaida groupings and a fugitive cleric in Yemen, Woolwich crown court heard.

Karim and his wife came to the UK from Bangladesh in 2006 with their young son because they thought the child had cancer; he has since been found to be clear. Karim began work for BA in Newcastle where he had access to the airline's offices. "He is an Islamic extremist, with close association to, if not membership of Jamaat ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh," alleged Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, "an organisation committed to the establishment of Islamic rule in Bangladesh, responsible for terrorist attacks in Bangladesh, and with links to al-Qaida and other groups.

"The defendant is entirely committed to an extreme jihadist and religious cause. He believes terrorism, including murder of civilians, is permissible to establish, as he views it, a true Islamic state. [He] was anxious himself to carry out such an attack and determined to seek martyrdom."

Karim, it was said, had been in contact with a terror cell and Anwar al-Awlaki, who is believed to be hiding in Yemen.

The defendant denies plotting to blow up a plane and gaining a UK job to "exploit terrorist purposes", but the jury was told he pleads guilty to fundraising for terrorist organisations.

His brother Tehzeeb Karim, "another committed terrorist and member of JMB", joined him in fundraising and helping sympathisers travel abroad to fight or train as terrorists, said Laidlaw.

In 2009 Tehzeeb and two others travelled from Bangladesh to Yemen, where a new division of al-Qaida was established - to find the radical al-Awlaki.

The court heard that in January 2010, A! wlaki em ailed the defendant saying: "Depending on what your role is and the amount of information you can get your hands on, you might be able to provide us with critical and urgent information and you may be able to play a crucial role."

The trial continues.


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