7/7 terror accused were heading for Pakistan to pursue jihad commitment

Two of the three men accused of helping the 7 July bombers plan their attacks were preparing to fly out to Pakistan to pursue their commitment to jihad when they were arrested, a court has heard.

London, Apr.15 : Two of the three men accused of helping the 7 July bombers plan their attacks were preparing to fly out to Pakistan to "pursue their commitment to jihad" when they were arrested, a court has heard.

According to The Scotsman, Waheed Ali and Mohammed Shakil went shopping for outdoor equipment and had their hair cut short the day before they were to leave. The pair, however, was arrested on March 22, 2007, at Manchester Airport as they were about to board a flight to Pakistan.

Ali, 24, Shakil, 31, and Sadeer Saleem, 27, have denied conspiring with bombers Mohammed Siddique Khan, Shezhad Tanweer, Jermaine Lindsay and Hasib Hussain to cause explosions between November 17, 2004, and July 8, 005.

The four suicide attacks on July 7, 2005, when backpack devices were exploded on London's transport network, killed 52 people.

The defendants are accused of going on a two-day reconnaissance mission on December 16 and 17, 2004, when they pinpointed potential targets and visited the Natural History Museum, the London Eye and the London Aquarium.

The trial continues.

ANI