Car bomb debris 'half mile range'

Bilal Abdulla (L) and Mohammed Asha

The explosions of two car bombs left in London's West End could have thrown debris half a mile, a court has heard.

The cars packed with gas cylinders and nails were left in Haymarket and adjoining Cockspur Street in June 2007.

If ignited, the cylinders could have exploded in shards of metal, scientist Eric Leung told Woolwich Crown Court.

Bilal Abdulla, 29, from Paisley and Mohammed Asha, 27, from Newcastle- under-Lyme deny conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions.

'Significant distances'

The jury was told the two men, who worked as doctors in NHS hospitals in Glasgow and Staffordshire, were part of a cell of Islamic extremists who intended to use mobile phone detonators to set light to the cylinders and kill dozens of late-night revellers.

Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC asked Mr Leung, of the Forensic Explosives Laboratory, what might have happened if the cylinders had been set alight.

He said: "If a cylinder failed and split, what would you expect to happen to the cylinder?"

Mr Leung told the court: "It may fragment or stay in one piece but these pieces could be projected significant distances."

In reality it takes about 15 to 30 minutes for that type of cylinder to explode Stephen Vullo

Asked how far, the scientist added: "I have seen examples where fragments of cylinders have been projected about half a mile. But that is not to say it would happen on every occasion."

Dr Abdulla and Mr Asha were arrested after the two Mercedes cars were found parked in central London.

The following day, engineering student Kafeel Ahmed, 28, drove a jeep into a terminal building at Glasgow airport. He later died from burns. Dr Abdulla is alleged to have been a passenger in that vehicle.

Not enough oxygen

The devices planted in the London cars failed to go off because mobile phone triggers did not work, the court has been told.

Mr Leung said the one placed in the Cockspur Street vehicle did ignite but quickly went out because there was not enough oxygen in the car.

But Stephen Vullo, for Abdulla, said gas cylinders are safety tested for explosion resistance by being engulfed by flames.

He said: "Without any safety pressure release valve the recommended time for people to be evacuated is about five minutes. In reality it takes about 15 to 30 minutes for that type of cylinder to explode."

Mr Vullo said the gas cylinders were incendiary devices and were not expected to explode.

The trial continues.