‘Would be’ London bomber ‘asked Twitter for advice’ about target

This image made from militant video, which has been verified by SITE Intel Group and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows Mohammed Emwazi , known as “Jihadi John,” holding a knife. A man who used the picture of Emwazi for his Twitter profile picture is on trial in the United Kingdom for asking social media for probable bombing targets. AP

LONDON, United Kingdom — A man who allegedly asked Twitter users for their thoughts on whether he should bomb a shopping center or the London Underground went on trial in Britain Tuesday.

Mohammed Rehman, 25, used the Twitter name Silent Bomber with a profile picture of the militant known as “Jihadi John” and is said by prosecutors to have had a “keen interest” in the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group.

He was arrested in May this year after posting a tweet saying: “Westfield shopping centre or London underground? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.”

That was accompanied by a link to an Al-Qaeda press release about the London bombings in 2005 which killed 52 innocent people and four suicide bombers.

Rehman, 25 and from Reading, west of London, is on trial at London’s Old Bailey court accused of preparing terrorist acts and possessing an article for terrorist purposes. His wife Sana Ahmed Khan is also charged preparing terrorist acts.

As Rehman was arrested, police also seized more than 10 kilograms of urea nitrate. The accused had allegedly tested explosives in his back garden.

“Given his prior knowledge, experience and the ready availability of the chemicals, the manufacture of a detonator would have taken no more than a couple of days and could have been done by him much quicker if he chose to,” prosecutor Tony Badenoch told the court.

The pair deny any wrongdoing and the trial continues.