Terror suspect wanted to join up
A terror suspect claimed he wanted to join the army while plotting a drone bomb attack, a court heard.
Hisham Muhammad, 25, allegedly downloaded extremist material while preparing to carry out a lone wolf attack.
Muhammad also researched potential targets while developing designs and prototype components for the adapted use of drones, the Old Bailey heard.
He stashed ‘bear claw’ ninja weapons, a tomahawk, a machete, knives and an axe at his home in Whitefield, Manchester, jurors were told.
Face coverings and camouflage clothing were also found after his arrest on June 4 last year.
it was said.
His cousin and brother-in-law (corr), fellow Bermudan Faisal Abu Ahmad, 24, is accused of failing to tell the police about Muhammad’s plans.
Anne Whyte, prosecuting, said Muhammad held extremist views aligned to Islamic State and had decided to commit a lone wolf attack.
She said: ‘He had researched and downloaded extremist material from the internet.
‘This material glorified violence and martyrdom in the name of an extreme and ultra conservative view of the Islamic faith.
‘He had researched how small drones might be adapted to drop some sort of device designed to harm others.
‘He had also obtained a variety of weapons and researched how to use knives to lethal effect.
‘He had purchased blade sharpening implements and had used them.
‘He had also researched military locations and police equipment.’
Muhammad had expressed an interest in joining the British army and had visiting Castle Armoury Barracks in Bury, the court heard.
She said that possible targets included the Army or the police but the prosecutor added:
‘We will never know if he had got as far as identifying a particular target or type of individual.’
Muhammad, of Victoria Avenue, Whitefield, Manchester, denies engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism.
Ahmad, of the same address, denies having information which he knew or believed might be of material assistance in preventing the commission by another person of an act of terrorism and failing to notify the authorities.
The trial continues.
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