‘Fanatic in plot to kill PM had homemade bombs’
An alleged extremist accused of a suicide plot to assassinate the Prime Minister in Downing Street was carrying homemade bombs when he was arrested at gunpoint, a court heard yesterday.
naa’imur Zakariyah rahman, 20, is accused of concocting a plan to storm no10 by blowing up the front gates with a homemade bomb disguised as a bag.
In the chaotic aftermath of the explosion, he hoped to kill theresa May and planned to arm himself for the suicide mission with knives, pepper spray and an explosive suicide vest, it was alleged.
Westminster magistrates were told the terror suspect from Finchley in north London had already carried out reconnaissance of Whitehall in preparation.
He was carrying two improvised explosive devices when he was arrested in Kensington last week, it was said. the devices were later found to be inert.
Yesterday rahman appeared in court to face two terrorism charges along with Mohammad Aqib Imran, 21, who is said to have been trying to join Islamic State.
Prosecutor Mark Carroll said: ‘rahman planned to detonate an improvised explosive device within a bag at the gates of Downing Street and then seek to gain access to no 10 in the ensuing chaos with a view to trying to kill the Prime Minister. the secondary attack on no 10 was to be carried out with a suicide vest, pepper spray and a knife.’ Police arrested rahman on november 28. He sat in the dock yesterday flanked by guards and spoke only to confirm his identity and give his nationality as ‘Bangladeshi-British’.
Lawyers for both defendants indicated they would deny the charges. they were remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at the old Bailey on December 20.