Cleric kept 'terror manual'

2006-01-12 11:06

London - Islamic cleric Abu Hamza kept a terrorism "manual", which was dedicated to Osama bin Laden and suggested a list of high-profile international targets, a London court was told on Wednesday.

The jury was told that 10 volumes of the 11-volume Encyclopaedia of Afghani Jihad found at the one-eyed, hook-handed imam's West London home advised hitting landmarks like London's Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty or the Eiffel Tower.

The book - written in Arabic sometime between 1989 and 1999 - also contained information on how to make bombs and booby traps, manufacture weapons and engage in secret communication.

External pressures

Prosecutor David Perry said although it was concerned with the Afghan Mujahideen fighting the occupying Russian forces at the time, it also talked of an "external pressures" unit, which would operate abroad.

Egyptian-born Hamza, a British citizen by marriage who preached at Finsbury Park mosque in north London, faced a total of 15 charges, including nine of "soliciting to murder".

Opening the case, Perry told the court the book said plans "should be laid out" to target buildings such as skyscrapers, ports, airports, nuclear plants and football stadiums.

The book - dedicated to "Abu Abdullah Osama bin Laden" for "carrying out 'jihad' in Afghanistan and who is still, to this date, inciting 'jihad'" - also talked of attacking large groups of people at Christmas.

Hamza preached 'murder, hatred'

Perry said: "This, the prosecution say, is a blueprint, a manual for terrorism, which echoes the things which feature in the defendant's speeches."

The court was told Hamza preached "murder and hatred" during his sermons and lectures, many of which were recorded on audio and videotapes found at his home.

In them, the prosecution said he called on his followers to carry out their "religious duty" to Allah and kill Jews, "infidels" and lapsed Muslims as part of the fight against enemies of Islam.

Legitimate targets for his violent form of "jihad" - literally "struggle" in Arabic - included what he called "apostates" - lapsed Muslims and the leaders of a number of Arab countries who were "too friendly" with the West.

Sharia law

The struggle would go towards establishing a "world caliphate" or Muslim government under Sharia law, even at the White House in Washington.

In one address, Hamza allegedly said Jews, who he believed "controlled" the West, should be "removed from the Earth".

Perry said: "You would think... that in his position of responsibility, in his position as a spiritual leader and civic leader, he would be preaching tolerance, mutual co-existence and responsibility regardless of race, colour or creed.

"In fact he preached the opposite. He preached intolerance, bigotry and hatred, in particular against Jews as a racial group and a religious body."

- AFP