Canadian 'bomb plotter' on trial

Mr Khawaja has been in custody since March 2004

A Canadian software developer was part of a plan to detonate a 600kg bomb which would have caused "massive" loss of life, a court has been told.

Momin Khawaja, 29, designed a remote bomb detonator which he called the "hi-fi digimonster", prosecutors in the Canadian capital Ottawa have alleged.

They say he attended a paramilitary training camp in Pakistan, where he is said to have learned to use weapons.

Mr Khawaja denies seven charges related to terrorism and explosives use.

Opening the trial, prosecutor David McKercher alleged that Mr Khawaja was part of "a plan to build and detonate a 600kg ammonium nitrate-based fertiliser bomb that could cause massive destruction and loss of life".

Charges against Mr Khawaja include use of explosives, participating in a terrorist group and financing a terrorist group. He could face life in prison if he is found guilty.

Assault rifle

The defendant allegedly learned how to use an assault rifle and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher during his time at the Pakistan camp.

The Canadian trial was subject to tight security, with bans on gels and liquids.

Legal experts regard the trial as a test of anti-terrorism legislation passed in Canada's Parliament in 2001 after the 11 September attacks.

The new law gives the government wider powers to keep intelligence information secret on national security grounds and limits defendants' access to evidence used against them.

Mr Khawaja's lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, has argued that the evidence must be subject to his client's scrutiny.

Mr Khawaja was arrested in March 2004 and has been in custody since, awaiting trial.