Guardian : Terror suspect fails to resume testimony

Terror suspect fails to resume testimony

Jeevan Vasagar | September 20, 2006

A defendant in the trial of an alleged British al-Qaida cell refused to go back into the witness box and give evidence for a second time yesterday.

Omar Khyam, 24, who is accused with six others of plotting a bombing campaign in Britain, stopped giving evidence on Monday because he said his family had been intimidated by Pakistan's secret service, the Inter-Services Intelligence.

Mr Khyam told the court last week that the ISI was involved in training militants at a camp in Pakistan. He stopped giving evidence as he was about to face questions about 600kg (1,300lb) of fertiliser which the prosecution claims was due to be used for bomb-making.

He denies planning terrorist attacks in Britain. He was questioned over two days by his defence counsel but will not now face cross-examination by the prosecution. During a brief hearing yesterday, the judge, Sir Michael Astill, addressed Mr Khyam, who stood in the dock between two security officers. The judge said: "Would you like to leave the dock and come into the witness box?"

Mr Khyam replied: "No." The judge asked: "That is your final decision?" The defendant said: "Yes."

The judge reminded Mr Khyam of a legal warning given to him on Monday, that his refusal to give evidence could count against him. The judge then told the jury: "That, members of the jury, is the end of Mr Khyam's evidence."

The trial is due to resume this morning.

Mr Khyam gave evidence for two days last week, outlining how he was gradually converted from a schoolboy who supported England at football to a militant jihadist. But he denied planning a terrorist campaign in Britain, saying instead that he was dedicated to supporting Islamist struggles in Muslim countries.

Mr Khyam, from Crawley in Sussex, and six other men were arrested in 2004 after the explosive fertiliser was found in a lock-up in west London.

The prosecution alleges they had al-Qaida links and had discussed attacking targets including the Ministry of Sound nightclub in London and the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent. All seven deny the charges under the Terrorism Act.