Six Britons accused of plotting to blow up at least seven transatlantic airliners recorded martyrdom videos saying the attacks were revenge for the US invasion of Iraq, a London court heard today.
In extracts played and read to the jury, the men said their mission was to punish non-Muslims and warned of "floods of martyrdom operations" because governments had ignored the warnings of Osama bin Laden.
"If you think you can go into our lands and do what you are doing in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and keep on supporting those who are fighting against Muslims and think it will not come back on your own doorstep may you have another think coming," Umar Islam, one of the eight defendants, said.
Yesterday, the court was told that the men had planned to use liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks to simultaneously blow up at least seven transatlantic aircraft in mid-air.
In total, up to 18 suicide bombers may have taken part in the planned attack, the prosecution said.
The eight men on trial at Woolwich Crown Court in east London are charged with conspiracy to murder. They are also accused of plotting "to commit an act of violence likely to endanger the safety of an aircraft". They deny the charges.
Prosecutor Peter Wright said the suicide videos had been discovered in a camera in one of the men's car and on a cassette tape in the garage of his home.
The prosecution has said the men were close to putting their scheme into action when they were arrested in August 2006.