The leader of the 21/7 plot learnt how to make hydrogen peroxide bombs while training in Pakistan with the man who led the 7/7 bomb attacks on London, according to courtroom claims.

Mohammad Sidique Khan, who headed the 7/7 suicide cell, and Muktar Said Ibrahim, the self-confessed “emir” of the 21/7 group, were in Pakistan at the same time during 2004-05.

Woolwich Crown Court was told that they returned to Britain in 2005 with the expertise to manufacture identical homemade bombs of a type never seen by explosives experts before. The allegation that they planned a bombing campaign together is the latest in the 21/7 trial since one of the six defendants “broke ranks” with the other men in the dock.

Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, who now sits surrounded by prison guards for his own protection, changed his defence this week to claim that he was deceived by Mr Ibrahim into taking part in a suicide bomb plot.

Mr Ibrahim, 29, who claims the 21/7 devices were an antiwar protest hoax, was questioned about his knowledge of the 7/7 bombers by Stephen Kamlish, QC, counsel for Mr Asiedu.

On July 7, 2005, four rucksack bombs were detonated on three Tube trains and a London bus, killing 52 passengers and the bombers. Two weeks later four bombs were partially detonated on three trains and a bus causing widespread panic.

Mr Kamlish said he had documentary evidence which showed that Mr Ibrahim was in Pakistan at the same time as Khan, 30, the Edgware Road bomber, and Shehzad Tanweer, 23, the Aldgate bomber on 7/7.

Mr Ibrahim was in Pakistan between December 2004 and March 2005. The jury was told that he was questioned by police at Heathrow before being allowed to board his flight. The prosecution alleges that he went there “to take part in jihad or to train for it”.

The main charge in the devices on July 7 and July 21 consisted of hydrogen peroxide mixed with an organic substance. On 21/7 the material mixed with the peroxide was chapati flour. The court was not told what was used to supplement the chemicals on 7/7.

Mr Kamlish put it to Mr Ibrahim that he had spent time with Khan and Tanweer in Pakistan in late 2004 or early 2005. “Had there been any discussion between you and them on how to make effective bombs, to start a bombing campaign in this country, the first of which was 7/7, the second of which was going to be 21/7?” asked Mr Kamlish.

“No,” replied Mr Ibrahim. “The only two occasions on which the authorities in this country had ever come across an improvised explosive device made from hydrogen peroxide and an organic substance was the 7th of July and the 21st of July,” continued Mr Kamlish.

“Yes,” Mr Ibrahim replied. “You were in Pakistan at the same time [as Khan and Tanweer]. You see the coincidence, don’t you?”

Mr Ibrahim replied: “When you say this fact, yes.”

Mr Ibrahim insisted, however, that he had never met Khan or Tanweer and had not had any jihad training in Pakistan. He claimed he spent his three months there sightseeing, visiting mosques and going to the beach.

The jury was shown extracts from the “martyrdom videos” recorded by Khan and Tanweer. Mr Ibrahim said that he agreed with the sentiments expressed on the video about the suffering of Muslim people, but claimed he was opposed to suicide bombing.

Mr Ibrahim, Mr Asiedu, 33, Mr Yassin Omar, 26, Mr Hussein Osman, 28, Mr Ramzi Mohammed, 25, and Mr Adel Yahya, 24, deny conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life. The trial continues.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• TV bidding war starts over Olympics
• Sofas were larger than life in TV adverts
• Driver pays fine with wheelbarrow of pennies