Man had 'viable' terror blueprint

Mr Altimimi came to the UK in 2004

A man who allegedly owned documents advocating attacks on public buildings had the blueprint for a "viable" terrorist group, a court has heard.

Omar Altimimi, 37, from Bolton, had an "organisational chart" which called for nightclubs, schools and churches to be attacked, Manchester Crown Court heard.

The "checklist" echoed al-Qaeda's Encyclopaedia of Jihad, it was alleged.

Mr Altimimi denies six charges of possession of the material for a purpose connected with terrorism.

The prosecution allege that Mr Altimimi also had an article by al-Qaeda's second-in-command, Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri, which called for the murder of those who disagree with extreme Islamic views.

The father-of-three also had an article by radical Palestinian writer Sheikh Abu Mohammed al-Maqdese, the jury heard.

Holy War

Several books by Mr al-Maqdese were found in the Hamburg flat of the ringleader of the 11 September attacks, Mohammed Atta.

Professor Michael Clarke, an expert in terrorism and defence studies at Kings College, London, gave evidence about the "organisational chart".

He said the "extensive checklist" of how to set up a terror network had echoes of the Encyclopaedia of Jihad, which was al-Qaeda's guide to perpetrating Holy War.

"It is the organisational doctrine of a viable terrorist organisation," he added.

Previously in the trial, the prosecution has alleged that Mr Altimimi had bomb-making instructions on a computer as well as footage of hostages being killed in Iraq.