Accused was 'inspired by bin Laden'

Umar Islam, 29, recorded a suicide video praising the al Qaida leader at the gang's east London bomb factory, a jury was told.

Jabbing his finger towards the camera, the alleged Islamic fanatic also paid tribute to Taliban leader Mullah Omar. The full 19-minute video was played to the jury for the first time at Woolwich Crown Court.

Speaking in front of a black flag covered in Arabic writing, Islam said Allah "loves us to die and kill in his path".

He said: "To Mullah Omar and Sheikh Osama and the brothers, keep on going, keep on remaining firm, but truly you have inspired many of the Muslims and you have inspired me personally to follow the true path of the prophet."

The video was one of the first items found by counter terrorist police when they swooped on the gang in August 2006.

Eight men are on trial accused of conspiring to murder thousands by exploding home-made liquid bombs on aircraft. They deny the offences.

Six of the defendants recorded suicide videos outlining their hatred of the West and threatening further attacks, prosecutors said. The videos were discovered in Assad Sarwar's car and in the garage of his High Wycombe home.

The defendants are: Ali, aka Ahmed Ali Khan, 27, of Prospect Hill, Walthamstow; Assad Sarwar, 27, of Walton Drive, High Wycombe; Tanvir Hussain, 27, of Nottingham Road, Leyton, east London; Mohammed Gulzar, 26, of Priory Road, Barking; Ibrahim Savant, 27, of Denver Road, Stoke Newington; Arafat Waheed Khan, 26, of Farnan Avenue, Walthamstow; Waheed Zaman, 23, of Queen's Road, Walthamstow; and Umar Islam, aka Brian Young, 29, of Bushey Road, Plaistow, east London.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.