Blogger remanded on terror charges over MPs list

A 23-year-old man appeared in court today charged with soliciting murder and other offences under the Terrorism Act in relation to a blog listing MPs it claimed voted for the Iraq war.

Bilal Zaheer Ahmad, of Dunstall Hill, Dunstall, Wolverhampton, was handcuffed as he stood between two security officers in the dock at London's City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Wearing a black coat and with close-cropped hair, Ahmad did not speak during the brief hearing.

He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on November 29.

Moira MacMillan, prosecuting, said: "This case appears under the terrorism case management protocol.

"We would ask that it be sent to the Central Criminal Court under the indictable-only procedure.

"The next preliminary hearing date which would be suitable for this case is Monday November 29."

Ahmad was not asked to enter a plea and no application for bail was made by his lawyer Ben Bansal.

The court heard he works in the "field of the internet".

District Judge Catherine Tubbs told Ahmad the case would be heard at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey).

Ahmad was arrested last Wednesday in connection with a website which allegedly influenced a student who tried to kill MP Stephen Timms.

West Midlands Police said Ahmad was charged today with soliciting murder and three counts of possessing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000.