Convicted terrorist's appeal hears how he used pseudonym

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 21:59

A SCOTTISH student contesting claims he is an Islamist terrorist used the name of a well-known bomb maker as a pseudonym, appeal judges heard yesterday.

The trial of Mohammed Siddique in October 2007 was told the name appeared in e-mail conversations, advocate depute Derek Ogg, QC, said.

Siddique, 23, also had information on the use of explosives, which he had gleaned from the internet. And a terrorism expert told the trial of the lengths someone would have had to go to get that information.

Siddique's trial also heard he told fellow students at a Glasgow college that he wanted to be a suicide bomber and his target would be central Glasgow.

Siddique was arrested in April 2006 as he waited to board a plane to Lahore, saying he planned to spend some time on his uncle's farm in Pakistan.

Material found on his computer and during a later search of his home in Alva, Clackmannanshire, put him in the dock.

Siddique is serving eight years after being found guilty of three offences under the Terrorism Acts and a breach of the peace.

The Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh is hearing his challenge to the guilty verdicts.

Defence QC Donald Findlay argued that the internet material could have been accessed by anyone and that Siddique was motivated by curiosity about the situation in the Middle East.

Although he sympathised with Islamist extremists, that was not enough to convict him of terrorist charges, he said.

The appeal judges have to decide whether the material seized by police – which included a manual from al-Qaeda's military committee – has to be closely linked to the commission or preparation of a terrorist act.

The hearing continues.