Computer repair leads to bomb factory discovery

A financial analyst’s bomb factory was discovered when he took his laptop to a repair shop and made the engineer promise not to look at the data.

Asad Bhatti’s computer contained a “significant library” of instructions on how to make explosive devices and documents entitled “Jihad and Martyrdom”, the Old Bailey heard.

Glen O’dwyer, owner of the repair shop in Caterham, Surrey, phoned the police in December 2020 after noticing the suspect files.

Officers arrested the 49-year-old and found he kept chemicals and circuitry to make bombs at his home in Redhill and two lock-up units. He denies terrorism charges. The trial continues.