One of the alleged 21/7 bombers wrote a suicide note in which he prayed for Allah to accept his deed as an act of martyrdom, Woolwich Crown Court was told yesterday.

Nigel Sweeney, QC, for the prosecution, said that two copies of the note written by Ramzi Mohammed, the alleged Oval bomber, were found during the police investigation. One, in draft form, was found torn into pieces but the second, perfected version, was said to have been discovered intact.

The Crown also alleged that a suicide video was filmed at some point by the 21/7 cell. A digital camera was recovered when Hussein Osman was arrested in Rome but its memory card was blank. A headband and a background banner emblazoned with religious slogans were recovered from Mr Mohammed’s flat in West London.

The suicide note was, Mr Sweeney said, evidence of the intent of the defendants when they set out with homemade bombs, made of hydrogen per- oxide-based explosives, on their backs.

Mr Mohammed’s note was hand-written on lined pages from an exercise book in a mixture of Arabic and English. It began with a lengthy hymn of praise to Allah, described as “the commander of the mujahidin”.

It continued: “Think not those who are killed in the path of Allah as dead, nay they are alive with their Lord and they having provisions. First of all I beg Allah to accept this action from me and he to Allah. To whom belongs the power and majesty, makes it a sincere one and that he admits me to the highest station in paradise, for verily he grants martyrdom to whomever he wills.

“Secondly my family, don’t cry for [me]. But indeed rejoice in happiness and love what I have done for the sake of Allah for he loves those who fight in his sake. I pray to Allah, the mighty, that he keeps your heart sealed to this religion.

“My family, practice your religion and hold tight to the rope of Allah and don’t let go. Pray your five daily prayers so that you may be saved from Hell and by the permission of Allah I may intercede for you ...

“My children, be good Muslims and obey your mother. Pray your prayers and read (the) Koran. Adam, look after your little brother, Malik, and we shall meet again in paradise, God willing. May Allah keep your mother’s heart sealed to this religion. Peace be upon you, God’s blessing and mercy.” It was signed Ramzi Mohammed.

Mr Sweeney said that the existence of the note and the strong evidence that a video had been filmed were crucial. Extracts of the note were read to the jury and a copy of it was shown on screens around the courtroom. Mr Sweeney said: “What is that if it is not a suicide note, if the next meeting is to be in paradise and martyrdom is to be granted to whomever he wills?”

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