'Gun video a bit of fun', says Blackburn terror accused (From Lancashire Telegraph)

'Gun video a bit of fun', says Blackburn terror accused

5:25pm Monday 22nd February 2010 in News By Neil Docking, Reporter

A MAN accused of terrorism told police that video footage of him firing a gun and a film called 'The Blackburn Resistance' was just a bit of fun'.

Muhammad Ali Ahmad, 26, of Whalley Range, Blackburn, is on trial at Manchester Crown Court alongside co-defendants Abbas Iqbal, 24, and Ilyas Iqbal, 23, of Percival Street.

Ahmad, a white man formerly known as Paul Cryer, was arrested last summer after the court was told his friend Abbas had been caught carrying terrorism-related material at Manchester Airport on August 14.

Police confiscated video clips said to show the trio brandishing and firing guns in the garden of a house in Percival Street.

There they also discovered the film, 'The Blackburn Resistance', which the prosecution said showed Ahmad and Illyas practising combat crawling in Corporation Park.

Ahmad's home was raided on August 26.

The jury was told officers found 'BB' guns and a phone containing pictures of Osama Bin Laden, rocket launchers and machine guns, and people being executed by having their throats slit and being shot.

There were also hand written notes that said: "My aim is to Jihad [holy war] until my last breath and give myself in sacrifice", the court heard.

Edward Brown, prosecuting, said Ahmad declined to answer any questions when interviewed by police.

Instead, Mr Brown said he gave a prepared statement in which he said he always had an interest in weapons and military items, and that he had never become aware of any extremist views that Abbas or Illyas had.

He said the video was 'just a bit of fun'.

Mr Brown added: "What he did say was that this was not connected with his religious beliefs."

Earlier the court had been told the three men had been 'intoxicated by the evil of terrorism', and that each of the defendents had developed 'extreme Islamist beliefs' and a 'fascination with Jihad'.

All three men are accused of preparation for acts of terrorism and the brothers are charged with possession of a document likely to be useful to a terrorist.

Abbas Iqbal is charged with possessing terrorist publications with a view to distribute them and encourage terrorism.

(Proceeding).