A student who had a degree in mechanical engineering and was studying for his PhD was building a drone in his bedroom for Islamist terrorists, a jury in Birmingham has heard.
Mohamad Al-Bared, 26, denies engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorism between Jan. 1, 2022 and Jan. 31, 2023.
His trial began at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday and prosecutor Michelle Heeley, KC, told the jury that when Mr. Al-Bared’s home in Coventry was raided the police found evidence suggesting he was designing and building the unmanned aerial device in his bedroom.
Ms. Heeley told the jury: “His home was searched and police found a drone. They also found material suggesting this defendant supported Islamic State, a terrorist organisation.”
He lived at home with his parents but was arrested in a car at the same time as the raid took place. His mobile phone was also seized.
Al-Bared, a student at the University of Birmingham, was working on a PhD about laser-based micro-drilling at the time of his arrest.
Ms. Heeley said a 3D printer was found at his home, which could be used to make parts for the drone.
Jury Shown Drone in Court
The jury was shown the drone—contained in a large transparent plastic bag—and the prosecutor said it was equipped with landing gear and a small digital camera.Ms. Heeley said: “It had all the components required for it to fly. We suggest it was being manufactured to deliver a bomb … to fly into IS enemy territory and deliver a chemical weapon or some other kind of device.”
In her opening statement to the jury Ms. Heeley said Al-Bared had filled in an application form to join ISIS and had also set up a registered company.
Ms. Heeley said, “He says he is not responsible for filling in the application form, but we say how else has it got there?”
She said the jury would hear evidence to suggest the idea for building the drone was, “somewhat inspired by the design of the Tomahawk missile.”
‘What Drone for Legitimate use Needs an Explosive Head?’
She said: “He is literally reporting back to someone about what it is that he is doing. What drone for legitimate use needs an explosive head? What does need an explosive head is a drone that has been designed on a missile.”Ms. Heeley told the jury: “That’s the real reason this drone is being built. That one sentence tells you what this case is about and why we say the defendant is guilty.”
“The only reasonable conclusion you can reach is you can be sure that he was preparing for acts of terrorism,” she added.
The trial is set to last for three weeks.
