Alleged bomber 'confessed' to prison officer

Published on Tuesday 12 June 2007 00:10

ONE of the men accused of the 21 July bomb plot told a prison officer that his co- defendant was the "brains behind the bombs", and "trying to destroy parts of London", a court heard yesterday.

Hussain Osman said Muktar Said Ibrahim had "bullied" him into making the rucksack devices and he wanted to speak to someone about giving evidence against him, Woolwich Crown Court was told.

Six men are accused of taking part in a plot to carry out a series of suicide bombings on the London transport system two weeks after 7/7.

They are Osman, 28, of no fixed address; Ibrahim, 29, of Stoke Newington, north London; Ramzi Mohammed, 25, of North Kensington, west London; Yassin Omar, 26, of New Southgate, north London; Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 34, of no fixed address; and Adel Yahya, 24, of High Road, Tottenham.

All six deny conspiracy to murder.

At about 3am last Friday, Osman called an officer to his cell in Belmarsh Prison's high security unit, the court was told.

The officer, Ben Murray, said: "Osman told me Ibrahim was the brains behind making the bombs and trying to destroy parts of London.

"Osman stated that Ibrahim had bullied him into making the bombs and the distribution of such items.

"Osman said to me that he wanted to see someone about giving evidence against his co-defendants or going QE."

QE stands for Queen's Evidence, that is evidence for the prosecution, the jury was told.

The trial continues.