British Airways 'would-be terrorist' faces trial next year

A British Airways computer expert alleged to have offered himself as a suicide bomber will face trial next year.

Rajib Karim, 30, from Newcastle, appeared at the Old Bailey for a half-hour hearing by video-link from Woodhill Prison in Buckinghamshire.

He spoke only to confirm that he could hear the proceedings and Mr Justice Calvert-Smith remanded him in custody for another hearing in June.

The eight-week trial was provisionally fixed for January next year, with a management hearing due in July.

Karim was arrested while working for the airline's call centre in the city last month after he allegedly sent money to Yemen.

He is accused of three charges alleged to have happened between 13 April 2006 and 25 February this year.

Two charges under the Terrorism Act 2006 allege he took part in the preparation of terrorism - one in the UK and one abroad.

Among the allegations it states that he "offered to become a martyr or suicide bomber", also that he offered to take advantage of "the potential opportunity to gain cabin crew access and or the potential opportunity to gain cabin crew training information and or cabin crew experience and inside knowledge".

This was said at an earlier magistrates' court hearing to be an allegation that Karim offered to take advantage of a planned strike by cabin crew
The third charge, under the Terrorism Act 2000, alleges that he sent money to others for terrorism purposes.

The prosecution was given permission to have until July to make inquiries, including examining computer hard-drives, before drawing up an indictment.

The judge said some of the three charges might be combined before any trial takes place.
No pleas were entered today.