Posted on 09/15/2006 1:45:30 PM PDT by Nachum
A man accused of plotting to detonate bombs in Britain acknowledged talking about blowing up the Houses of Parliament, but said the suggestion was meant as a joke.
Omar Khyam, 24, who is standing trial along with six others, denies conspiring to cause an explosion.
He told jurors at London's Central Criminal Court that, while watching Prime Minister Tony Blair take questions in the House of Commons in "we just made a comment 'Can you imagine if you dropped a bomb right there and then? You would take out all the MPs (members of Parliament)."
Khyam confirmed it was he who had made the comment, but when asked by defense lawyer Joel Bennathan if the proposal was serious, he said "no."
Khyam and the other suspects were arrested in 2004, during an operation in which police seized 1,300 pounds of ammonium nitrate fertilizer.
Prosecutors say the men planned to set off bombs, and had drawn up a list of possible targets that included Britain's electricity network, one of London's biggest nightclubs and a major shopping mall.
Khyam; Salahuddin Amin, 31; Anthony Garcia, 24; Nabel Hussain, 20; Jawad Akbar, 22; Waheed Mahmood, 34, and Shujah ud Din Mahmood, 19, deny conspiring to cause an explosion.
Khyam, Garcia and Hussain deny a second charge of possession of ammonium nitrate fertilizer for possible use in terrorism. Khyam and Shujah ud Din Mahmood, who are brothers, also deny a charge of possessing aluminum powder for possible use in terrorism.
On Thursday, Khyam told the jury he was glad when New York and Washington were attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.
"I was happy," he said. "America was, and still is, the greatest enemy of Islam. They put up puppet regimes in Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.
"I was happy that America had been hit because of what it represented against the Muslims, but obviously 3,000 people died so there were mixed feelings."
The trial is continuing.
Hey Omar, NOT FUNNY.
Omar the tent maker?
I guess some people just can't tell a joke..
Of course it was a joke! Those weenies are far too cowardly to try and attack such a well-defended place. Naw, they go for the civilian airlines and marketplaces.
"during an operation in which police seized 1,300 pounds of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. "
Hello. That's a lot of powder for a freakin riddle.
Looks like his comedy act bombed.
Let him tell his Rhubayat to the judge..
Maybe the judge will, just as a joke, you know, impose a 20 year sentance. One good joke deserves another, huh?
Judge: Islamic humour? Allow me to introduce you to an old English joke. It involves a hempen rope...
Happens MUCH more frequently than CAIR would ever admit.
And yet we get dumped on for "profiling". Threats must be followed up on.
If I were the Judge, I would tell Omar, "It's OK, Omar, I get it. You're free to go......JUST JOKING! --You gotta do 25 years first. Bailiff, take him away!"
A latter day Guy Fawkes...
Looks like his comedy act bombed.
Watch out! This is one of the key British vs American English differences. When we described something "bombed", it Britain it actually means it is a smashing success rather than the American meaning of failure.
It just goes to show, the US and England are two nations divided by a common language.
Had he eaten a Twinkie as well?
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