‘Attack plans’ found in raid on home of Blackburn terror accused (From Blackburn Citizen)

‘Attack plans’ found in raid on home of Blackburn terror accused

10:30am Thursday 25th February 2010

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POLICE officers who raided the homes of Muslim men accused of terrorism discovered two documents planning potential attacks home and abroad, a court heard.

Ilyas Iqbal, 23, stands trial at Manchester Crown Court alongside his brother Abbas Iqbal, 24, and friend Muhammed Ali Ahmad, 26, of Whalley Range.

Edward Brown, prosecuting, told the court how DC Paul Beckwith searched the brothers homes in Percival Street, Blackburn on August 14 last year after Abbas was found to be carrying ‘terrorism related materials’ at Manchester Airport.

DC Beckwith said two sets of handwritten notes were found within a weapons cabinet containing several machetes, knives, an air rifle and pistol, crossbows and live ammunition.

Mr Brown said “Attack Planning” and “Urban Combat” were both written by and bore the finger prints of Ilyas Iqbal.

He said Attack Planning also bore the fingerprints of Ahmed.

Attack Planning had four highlighted headings: intelligence, preparation (including clothing weapons and transport), execution and withdrawal.

The intelligence section, he said, appeared to relate to an attack on an individual. It read: “Target’s name, address, picture, build and whether he is armed. Is the area monitored by cctv or is it an estate or a posh area. Area map.”

Urban Combat concerned what type of rounds to use in a rocket grenade launcher to attack armoured vehicles.

It also detailed how enemy helicopters would fly when dropping troops.

It read: “This is the time the chopper is most vulnerable. Send out two men RPG (rocket propelled grenades) teams to take out choppers.”

Earlier in the trial the jury heard how Ilyas, who described himself as a “military enthusiast”, told police officers he wrote attack planning after seeing a film about a group of special forces solders who had gathered intelligence before they took part in an attack.

All three men are accused of preparation for acts of terrorism and the brothers are charged with possession of a document likely to be useful to a terrorist.

Abbas Iqbal is charged with possessing terrorist publications with a view to distribute them and encourage terrorism.

(Proceeding)

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