Accused admits larger bomb plan

All eight men deny conspiring to murder others

A man accused of being part of a plot to blow up passenger planes in 2006 has admitted he considered targeting oil refineries as a "publicity stunt".

Assad Sarwar, 28, said he and co-accused Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 27, had wanted to set off a small device as a political stunt against Western policy.

But under cross-examination, he said they had considered a "larger device" at gas terminals and oil refineries.

Eight men deny conspiring to murder and endanger aircraft leaving the UK.

Their arrests in August that year led to a ban on passengers carrying most liquids on board aircraft.

Prosecutors allege the men planned to make hydrogen peroxide bombs disguised as soft drinks to detonate in mid-air on at least seven planes flying out of London's Heathrow airport.

'Larger bang'

Mr Ali, of Walthamstow, east London, the alleged leader of the plot, has told the court that the men merely wanted to set off a harmless explosion at the airport as a "publicity stunt".

But under cross-examination by Richard Whittam, prosecuting, Mr Sarwar said they had discussed using a bigger device at gas terminals and oil refineries.

The purpose was to scare, make threats and demands Assad Sarwar

"At that stage we were looking at different options," he told the court.

"Heathrow was considered, in the case of other sites it was going to be a slightly larger device."

He added that the device would have been made by mixing a special concentration of hydrogen peroxide with aluminium powder to cause "a larger bang".

Woolwich Crown Court was told that following Mr Sarwar's arrest, police discovered a memory stick in the garage of his home in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, that contained information on gas terminals and oil refineries.

Suicide videos

Mr Sarwar said that a documentary showing footage of atrocities in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan would have been released after the device exploded.

These would have been combined with home-made suicide videos, he added.

He said: "The purpose was to scare, make threats and demands, working on the fear of the public and government."

Asked if he agreed with martyrdom operations or al-Qaeda's actions, Mr Sarwar replied: "No".

Mr Whittam said: "Is it that you have adopted that particular attitude now because the evidence points to you making bombs to be used in martyrdom operations?"

Mr Sarwar answered: "No".

Mr Sarwar and Mr Ali's co-defendants are Tanvir Hussain, 27, of Leyton, east London, Waheed Zaman, 24, and Arafat Waheed Khan, 27, both of Walthamstow, east London.

Also charged are Mohammed Gulzar, 26, of Barking, east London, Ibrahim Savant, 27, of Stoke Newington, north London, and Umar Islam, 30, of Plaistow, east London.

All eight deny two joint charges of conspiring to murder and to endanger aircraft.

The trial continues.