An alleged al-Qaeda member was such an important figure in the organisation that a junior associate was recruited to carry his “terrorist contacts book” when he flew into Britain, a jury was told yesterday.

Rangzieb Ahmed, 33, flew home in December 2005 after an alleged terrorist operation in Dubai and Saudi Arabia was aborted when something went wrong.

A second man, Habib Ahmed, 28, unrelated to Rangzieb Ahmed, was ordered to carry three books or diaries belonging to him that contained information on how al-Qaeda operatives could contact each other secretly, Manchester Crown Court was told.

Some of the material, described as “considerably important to a terrorist”, was written in invisible ink. Other passages related to communicating with other members and phone numbers of important al-Qaeda figures.

Andrew Edis, QC, for the prosecution, told the jury: “It was, in fact, the contacts book of a terrorist.”

The jury was told that Rangzieb Ahmed was tracked using covert surveillance. Listening devices had been hidden in a hotel room in Dubai and in cars used by the two men on their return to Manchester. Mr Ahmed, of Manchester, denies a charge of directing terrorism. It is the first time that the charge, brought under the Terrorism Act 2000, has been employed in a British court. Also in the dock are Habib Ahmed, a taxi driver, and his wife, Mehreen Haji, 27, who also live in Manchester with their two children.

Mr Edis said that Rangzieb Ahmed was an “important member of al-Qaeda who was in a position to direct at least some of its activities”.

The jury was told that he spent seven years in an Indian jail in the 1990s and “was engaged in an operation which involved him travelling to Dubai and intended to travel onward to Saudi Arabia but was diverted because something went wrong”.

While Rangzieb Ahmed stayed in Pakistan meeting al-Qaeda contacts, Habib Ahmed flew home. At Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Dutch investigators discovered the contacts books in his luggage and were able to look at them without his knowing.

In April 2006 Habib Ahmed is alleged to have travelled to Pakistan to attend a terrorist training camp to be instructed in the use of weapons and explosives. It was at this time that his wife is said to have transferred almost £4,000 to him.

It is alleged that he took to using the internet at a local library and internet café to communicate with Rangzieb Ahmed. This suggests covert criminal behaviour, the prosecution said.

Mr Edis said of Habib Ahmed: “He is in receipt of £4,000 sent to him by his wife. Where has that come from? Why is all the money being spent? What the prosecution say is the answer is that he goes to Pakistan in spring 2005 to train as a terrorist.

“He goes to Dubai to be active as a terrorist because Rangzieb is an important man in the organisation who needs help. Habib is the man to do it.”

Mr Edis said: “These books are very important evidence in this case. Why did two of them contain information in invisible ink, for example?

“Why, if you are going to travel by air into Britain, would you want somebody else to carry these things for you? Why if you were that somebody else would you agree to carry them?”

Rangzieb Ahmed denies directing terrorism, being a member of al-Qaeda, possessing articles for a purpose connected with terrorism and possessing a rucksack containing traces of explosive. Habib Ahmed also denies membership of al-Qaeda and two counts of possession of articles which give rise to suspicion they are for the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. He has also pleaded not guilty to attending a terrorist training camp in Pakistan.

His wife denies transferring almost £4,000 to her husband knowing it might be used for terrorism.

The trial continues.

Times Recommends

• An officer and a gentle woman
• Dame Helen Mirren is worthy of the Epidaurus
• Foods that can help to prevent swine flu