A London man has denied plotting to kill Theresa May with a backpack bomb.<\/p>\n
Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, from Finchley is accused of preparing a terror attack targeting Downing Street.<\/p>\n
He is also charged with assisting Mohammad Aqib Imran, 22, from Birmingham, who allegedly tried to join the Islamic State group and is charged with preparing acts of terror.<\/p>\n
Both men appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link from Belmarsh Prison on Friday. They deny the allegations.<\/p>\n
The two men were arrested in counter-terrorism police raids in London and Birmingham in November last year.<\/p>\n
Mr Rahman, who faces a charge of preparing acts of terrorism in relation to the alleged Downing Street plot, is accused of carrying out reconnaissance of the target location, recording a pledge of allegiance and buying a rucksack.<\/p>\n
It is alleged he dropped off the rucksack and a jacket to be fitted with an improvised explosive device and collected it “with a view to committing attacks against persons in the UK”.<\/p>\n
Mr Rahman also faces a separate charge of assisting Mr Imran in allegedly preparing acts of terror.<\/p>\n
The charge says Mr Rahman recorded a sponsorship video which would have allegedly helped Mr Imran to be accepted into IS.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Mr Imran, of Sparkbrook, is accused of possession of the sponsorship video and trying to get hold of a fake passport.<\/p>\n
He also researched terror publications and downloaded a copy of How To Survive In The West – A Mujahid’s Guide 2015, it is alleged.<\/p>\n
The judge, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, remanded the defendants in custody.<\/p>\n
The pair will stand trial on 18 June.<\/p>\n
Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"