Muslim students trained in terror in Capital of Scotland

Scotsman   

A STUDENT facing terrorism charges spoke of attending “training groups” in Edinburgh, a court heard today.

Mohammed Atif Siddique, 21, also told a fellow student how he wanted to be a suicide bomber, blow up Glasgow and that he had met Osama bin Laden.

He is facing five charges including possessing, collecting and distributing terrorist propaganda and providing instructional material for bomb making.
Siddique, from Alva in Clackmannanshire, denies all the charges.

At the High Court in Glasgow, Razia Hussain said the accused made a series of claims while they were studying computing at Glasgow Metropolitan College.

The 22-year-old told the court that Siddique would access non work related websites in class every time he had an opportunity.

Questioned by Crown counsel Brian McConnachie QC about what the websites displayed, she replied: “People getting blown up, people who were dead, armies and explosions.

“Mohammed used to explain to me about these sites, about people getting blown up.

“How this is right and should be done because we are Muslims.
“Mohammed said that as Muslims we should commit Jihad.”

Asked by Mr McConnachie what Jihad meant she answered: “To go and blow yourself up.”

Ms Hussain told the court that one image showed a dead man with a smile on his face.

She added: “Mohammed said this was because he had committed Jihad and God was going to be happy.

“He said he wanted to be one as well – a suicide bomber.”

“How many times did he say that?” Mr McConnachie asked.
“A few times,” she replied.

Siddique also denies causing a breach of the peace by threatening to become a suicide bomber and saying he was a member of the terror network al Qaida, as well as showing images of suicide bombers and beheadings.

Ms Hussain also told the court that the accused claimed to have met Osama bin Laden and was visiting or planning to visit “training groups” in Edinburgh or Stirling.

On another occasion the trial heard Siddique said he was going to “blow Glasgow up.”

Ms Hussain said: “At times you did take him seriously. At times you didn’t take him seriously.”

Mr McConnachie asked her: “When he said these things to you did he appear to be joking?” to which she replied: “No.”

The offences are alleged to have been carried out between March 1, 2003 and April 13, 2006.

Siddique and Ms Hussain were students on the HND Information and Communication Technology course, between 2003 and 2005.

Siddique’s trial is being heard by Lord Carloway. He faces three charges under the Terrorism Act 2000, one under the Terrorism Act 2006 and a breach the peace charge.

He is accused of possessing items which gave a reasonable suspicion that they were connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

Among the items described are imitation firearms, documents depicting terrorist propaganda and instructions on making bombs.

It is also alleged that he collected information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

Siddique is charged further with setting up websites that demonstrate how to make explosives and use firearms and freely distributing terrorist publications via websites.


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