UK cabbie 'supported insurgents'

The London Eye featured on the video seized by police

A Home Office investigation had concluded a London minicab driver was "actively engaged" in the support of the Iraqi insurgency, a court was told.

Woolwich Crown Court was told Rauf Mohammed took part in "anti-coalition activity" on a visit to Iraq in 2004.

The allegations were part of a Home Office assessment dated January 2005.

Mr Mohammed, 26, of Glenparke Road, Forest Gate, east London, denies charges of making or possessing articles useful to commit terrorism.

The Home Office document concluded Mr Mohammed continued to actively support the Iraqi insurgency when he returned to the UK.

It was also assessed that he remained in contact with several people in the UK who were similarly involved.

Under cross examination, Mr Mohammed said the authorities had failed to provide any explanation of the allegations or the details of the alleged activities or contacts.

'High profile targets'

He denied a charge of making a video which would be "likely" to be useful to someone involved in an act of terrorism.

The court heard that the Iraqi Muslim visited parts of London listening to hypnotic music about martyrdom and talked about killing western leaders like Tony Blair and George Bush.

His footage contained "high profile targets" such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye.

There were also "zoomed in" shots of Paddington Green police station, where terrorist suspects are taken, and a speech by Osama bin Laden.

Mr Mohammed denied giving surveillance officers the "slip" in December 2004, when he left his car in central London and started the four-and-half-hour walk back to his home.

He told the court that as he reported his car was missing to the police it proved he was not trying to conceal his address, and the video was made as a souvenir of London.

"If I did not want the police to know where I lived why on the day that I went to look for it and I did not find it did I go to the police?"

The trial continues.