Author: Duncan Gardham, Security Correspondent
Publication: The Telegraph, UK
Date: September 25, 2008
URL: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3073727/British-Muslim-was-senior-al-Qaeda-leader-court-told.html
A British Muslim was a senior al-Qaeda leader
who kept a terrorist contact book containing telephone numbers and emails
written in invisible ink, a court has heard.
Rangzieb Ahmed, 33, from Manchester is accused of directing terrorism between
April 2004 and Aug 2006.
He allegedly travelled from Pakistan to Dubai
where he met an associate in a hotel room to hand over three terrorist contact
books containing telephone numbers and emails written in invisible ink.
The other man, Habib Ahmed, 28, flew back
to Britain separately but his luggage was secretly opened as he passed through
Schipol airport in Amsterdam and the alleged code books discovered.
The security services followed the men around
Manchester where they watched them holding meetings and bugged Habib's taxi
and another vehicle, the court heard.
Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, told Manchester
Crown Court: "The prosecution say that Rangzieb Ahmed was a member of
al-Qaeda and an important member of al-Qaeda who was in a position to direct
some of its activities."
He said Rangzieb had travelled to Dubai intending
to travel on to South Africa but was diverted to Britain when something went
wrong.
"He was travelling on important al-Qaeda
business," Mr Edis said and Habib had flown out to help him.
The men's conversation in Dubai was secretly
recorded and Rangzieb gave Habib a Filofax and two exercise books to carry
back to Britain, the court heard.
"They contained information in invisible
ink," Mr Edis said. "The prosecution say these books contained information
of considerable importance to a terrorist which allows the terrorist to communicate
secretly by email and telephone - a contact book for a terrorist."
From Dubai the men flew separately to Britain
arriving around Christmas 2005, the court heard.
"During that time he held meetings with
al-Qaeda contacts, assisted by Habib Ahmed.
"He was an important al-Qaeda man at
that time and in this country and it was important for members of the organisation,
including Habib Ahmed to help him," Mr Edis said.
Listening devices were put in two cars, including
a taxi driven by Habib Ahmed, the court heard, which monitored conversations
between December 2005 and July 2006.
Rangzieb left for Pakistan in January 2006
and Habib followed in April 2006.
"He went to a training camp in Pakistan
to be trained further to be an active terrorist, trained in explosives."
While in Pakistan, Habib's wife, Mehreen Haji,
28, sent a total of £4,000 in two payments, allegedly to support his
activities.
The court heard that Rangzieb, who was jailed
in India for seven years after illegally crossing the border, admits to being
a member of the group Harakat ul-Mujahideen, described as a Kashmiri terrorist
group, but denies being a member of al-Qaeda.
He was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, but spent
most of his childhood in Pakistan after a family split and only returned to
Britain after his release from jail in May 2001, leaving again three years
later without telling his family where he was going.
Habib Ahmed is said to claim he associated
with Rangzieb because he was working as a journalist.
His wife is said to accept that she sent him
money but did not know it was for terrorist purposes.
When the pair, who have two children, were
arrested in August 2006 and their home searched, police found material from
the disbanded group al-Muhajiroun and a photograph of its leader Omar Bakri
Mohammed speaking during their wedding.
"This is not a trial about ideas, it
is a trial about terrorism," Mr Edis said. "It is not simply having
ideas but taking steps to implement those ideas by participating in the commission,
preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism."
Rangzieb is accused of directing the activities
of a terrorist organisation, possessing articles for terrorism and possessing
a rucksack with traces of explosives.
Habib is accused of possessing information
for terrorism and receiving terrorist training in Pakistan.
Haji is accused of arranging funding for terrorism.
They deny the charges and the trial continues.
