Terror suspect's 'martyrdom video' shown in court

1:35pm Thursday 10th April 2008

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CHILLING footage of a High Wycombe terror suspect's alleged martyrdom video was shown in court today.

For the first time the jury at Woolwich Crown Court were shown Umar Islam's full 'suicide' speech, which lasted more than 18 minutes.

Islam (previously Brian Young), 29, formerly of High Wycombe is among eight men on trial accused of plotting to blow up several transatlantic flights in mid air.

During his speech Islam, sat in front of a flag covered in Arabic, exclaimed that he and other martyrs "loved to die" while jabbing a finger at the camera.

The voice of fellow defendent Ahmed Abdullah Ali could be heard off camera, asking Islam questions about what he was doing and why during his speech.

When asked what he hope to achieve he replied: "I hope from this that the enemies of Islam will learn, maybe won't learn, but we hope that you will learn that you can never win this war. It doesn't matter how many weapons you get, how many tanks.

"We love to to die in the path of Allah. We love to die like you love life."

Ali then asked: "What would you say to those who have accused you of being brain washed?"

He replied: "Yes I have been brain washed. It has been washed by the clean and cleansing water of Islam and the Koran.

"Me myself, I do not care what anyone says about me.

"We don't care if you call us terrorists. We will keep on terrorising until you learn your lesson."

Near the beginning of his speech he said: "This is revenge for the actions of the USA in the Muslim lands and they're accomplices, such as the British and the Jews. This is a warning to the non believers that if they do not leave our lands there are many more like us and many more like me ready to strike.

"To all the non believers, all the non Muslims let it be known that you can never win in this war."

He urged the general public to "accept Islam as the truth" and to stop supporting their Governments as they are "leading you to destruction without you realising it."

He added: "To the Muslims I urge you to wake up from your sleep and wage Jihad."

The jury also saw the video of Arafat Waheed Khan, another of the accused. The trial continues.

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