BA worker to face terror trail
27.03.10
A computer expert from Newcastle who works for BA, said to have offered himself as a suicide bomber, will face trial next January. Rajib Karim, 30, is accused of 2 counts of planning suicide bombings and his own martyrdom, and of fundraising for the purposes of terrorism. He appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday via a video-link from Woodhill Prison in Buckinghamshire and was remanded in custody with a trial scheduled for eight weeks provisionally set for January 2011.
Mr Karim was arrested while working for the airline's call centre in Newcastle last month. He is accused of 3 charges relating to alleged crimes between April 13, 2006 and February 25 this year. Two charges under the Terrorism Act 2006 allege he took part in the preparation of terrorism in the UK and abroad. The third charge, under the Terrorism Act 2000, alleges he sent money to others for terrorism purposes.
Press stories suggest that he planned to volunteer as emergency cabin crew during the present strikes in order to gain access to planes, on which he planned a suicide bombing. He is believed to have contacted extremist groups in Yemen, the place the alleged Christmas day underpants suicide bomber on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit had spent time.
The prosecution was given permission to have until July to make further inquiries, including examining computer hard-drives, before drawing up an indictment. Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said some of the 3 charges could be combined before any trial takes place. No pleas have been entered.
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