Barot: Plotter received terror training abroad

Terror plotter Dhiren Barot had received extensive terrorism training in the use of weapons and explosives, his sentencing hearing was told today.

Edmund Lawson QC, for the Crown, said Barot first travelled to Pakistan for terrorist-related purposes in October 1995, when he travelled to the disputed territory of Kashmir and then on to a mountainous area called Kotti.

While he was there, Barot attended terror training camp where he "received instruction in the use of weapons, explosives and other terrorist-related activities," Mr Lawson told Woolwich Crown Court.

He was there for many months at least.

While there, Barot made detailed notes in a notebook which was later recovered by police in a garage.

Fingerprints and handwriting evidence proved Barot was the author.

The book revealed that Barot had undertaken "intensive training in various aspects of terrorism". It referenced a catalogue of weapons including a Kalashnikov and AK47 and a description of grenades and various chemicals including sulphuric acid.

The notebooks also revealed that Barot was given "detailed advice" on the use of poisons.

They also contained plans for a bomb containing TNT and sulphuric acid and instructions on the preparation of nitro-glycerine.

The notebooks also featured sections on making Molotov cocktails and napalm bombs, plus a section on "how to blow up a bridge" - including rudimentary diagrams.

Mr Lawson pointed out a page which showed an "old method and new method for manufacturing Molotov cocktails".

Pointing out sections with hand-drawn diagrams, he added: "At the top right-hand side of the page there is 'how to make a napalm bomb'."

The prosecutor also showed to the court on a series of plasma TV screens extracts from the notebook depicting a "basic design for a phosphorous bomb".

There was also a section on the effects of poisons and how to manufacture them, including cyanide and ricin, with more diagrams, he said.

An expert from Porton Down, who analysed the material, said it included four recipes for poison created from harmful bacteria.

"These included a recipe designed to produce botulinum toxin, the most toxic substance known to man," said Mr Lawson, "although the recipe would be very difficult successfully to implement."

Mr Lawson pointed out a "description of how to go about blowing up a bridge".

This section included a hand-drawn cross-section of the platform level of a bridge, with a section marked "beam" and other annotations.

The court heard further details of Barot's international travel, including a trip to the Philippines via Malaysia in September 1999.

Mr Lawson said a witness had testified that while at Camp Hudaybiyah, run by the Al Jamaah Al Islamiyah group, Barot "undertook instruction in small arms training, mortars, basic explosives handling, navigation and jungle patrolling".