Smash hit

Badat had been living quietly with his family in Gloucester and news of his arrest in November 2003 came as a shock to neighbours. He had been studying at a mosque in Blackburn.

Badat appeared in court today wearing a grey sweater and a beard. He spoke only to confirm his name and plead guilty during the 15-minute hearing.

Badat had been linked to Reid by security services who found Belgian telephone cards on Reid. The cards were used by Badat to contact Reid’s terrorist contact Nizar Trabelsi, who is in jail in Belgium.

Inquiries were made in America, Belgium and Holland and a large amount of computer material was analysed. Mr Horwell told the court today that police recovered the device from Badat’s home in November 2003 - almost two years after he apparently decided not to go ahead with the bombing.

The prosecutor said that, on his way to the police station, Badat confessed that he had been asked to carry out the shoe bombing just like Reid. He said that he had been given the device in Afghanistan, but he later withdrew from the plot.

Badat said he had removed the detonator and plastic explosive from the shoe in which it had been hidden. Mr Horwell said there was little dispute between the defence and the prosecution about the facts. Badat was saying he withdrew from the plot before his return to the UK.

"We say he withdrew a little later. He was plainly having second thoughts by December 14 (2001), and had withdrawn by the 17th by virtue of the fact he did not take that flight."

Badat’s counsel, Joel Bennathan, said it was important for people to realise that although a very serious conspiracy, it was an agreed fact that Badat had decided he would not go through with the bombing.

A "trace" of explosive was found in Badat’s locker at the Blackburn mosque where he had been studying the Koran. The amount was so small that it is believed it may have been transferred from Badat’s hand.

The judge, Mr Justice Fulford, will hear the full prosecution case, followed by a plea in mitigation by the defence, at the March 18 hearing.

It will then be for him to decide Badat’s exact culpability in the conspiracy. The charge was brought under the 1977 Criminal Law Act. Two other - lesser - charges which Badat denied, brought under the 1883 Explosive Substances Act, were ordered to lie on the file by the judge.

They alleged possession of explosive substances with intent to endanger life and possession of explosive substances for an unlawful purpose.

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