A former Shropshire doctor accused of planning to murder people in bombs attacks in London and Glasgow did not know of the terror gang’s plans, a jury heard.

Bilal Abdulla told Woolwich Crown Court that he and his friend Kafeel Ahmed were the “driving force” behind the conspiracy of the two London attacks and the third attack on Glasgow Airport.

But, he said, Mohammed Asha, who spent 12 months at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital during his training to become a brain surgeon, was not told of the plans.

Abdulla and Asha are on trial after they denied conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions. Ahmed died after driving a Jeep packed with explosives into Glasgow Airport.

Yesterday Abdulla told the jury: “Kafeel was the boss, the emir (leader). He had the technical abilities, he was the engineer. It was his idea and he was the leader.” 

The two men wanted the “sensational” London fire attacks to take place on a significant date, the jury was told. But Abdulla said he was so busy working full-time at the Royal Alexandra Hospital that the plot fell behind. 

Abdulla said: “One of the plans was to choose a day when (Gordon) Brown was taking over from Tony Blair. That was postponed because I was working up to that time and we were not able to finish all the shopping. 

“I was working so we cancelled that idea and left it to the next week until we had finished shopping, some minor stuff, some petrol, some walkie talkies.”

Abdulla told the court that he  felt “disappointment” when he realised the London devices would not catch fire. 

He told the jury that after the failed attacks they went to see Asha at his work to collect a package of important documents, including their passports, which he was holding for them. 

The trial continues.

By Crime Correspondent Kirsty Smallman