Leeds A young white man who adopted a radical Islamic creed planted a hoax bomb on a bus after becoming excited by graphic images of terrorist violence, a court was told yesterday.

Nicholas Roddis, 22, is alleged to have worn a false black beard to board a packed bus before leaving behind a carrier bag packed with nails, wire and a working clock. Inside the bag was a message, purporting to be from the al-Qaeda leadership in Iraq, that proclaimed that there was “no god but Allahu”, adding: “Britain must be punished.”

When police raided Mr Roddis’s flat in Bramley, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, they found bombmaking ingredients, including chemicals, nails and detonators, Edward Brown, QC, for the prosecution told the jury at Leeds Crown Court. A search of his telephone and computer uncovered videos and messages “celebrating terrible atrocities” carried out by jihadist extremists.

Mr Brown said: “Not long after he had got on, he left the bus, leaving one bag behind. When a passenger checked inside, he saw three packages with nails, wire, a working clock and a piece of paper with foreign writing on it.”

Fifty homes were evacuated before police carried out a controlled explosion.

Mr Roddis denies placing a hoax bomb on a bus, engaging in preparation for an act of terrorism and 11 counts of possessing articles for terrorist purposes.

The trial continues.

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