A TERRORISM trial was halted temporarily yesterday when a key defendant refused to continue giving evidence because he said he feared for the safety of his family in Pakistan.

Omar Khyam, 24, told the jury that the Pakistani intelligence service had “had words” with his family and he was no longer prepared to give his evidence.

He had been scheduled to tell his trial at the Old Bailey why he and his alleged co-conspirators had bought and stored more than half a tonne of fertiliser, which the prosecution claims was to be used as the basis for a bomb aimed at a British target.

But his third day in the witness box ended yesterday after two minutes. Asked about the fertiliser, Mr Khyam said his earlier evidence had jeopardised the safety of his relatives and he refused to carry on.

He claimed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had contacted family members living in the country in response to comments he made about the agency during his first two days of evidence. Mr Khyam had accused the ISI of founding, funding and running explosives training camps in Kashmir, and working with Islamic groups to choose those who participated. He said yesterday that the ISI was “worried that I may end up revealing more about them”.

“The priority for me is the safety of my family. As much as I want to carry on and clarify matters, I’m going to stop,” he said.

Joel Bennathan, his barrister, appeared shocked. “By stop, what do you mean?” he asked.

“I’m not going to discuss anything relating to the ISI any more, or my evidence,” Mr Khyam replied.

Sir Michael Astill, the judge, adjourned the trial immediately and sent out the jury. When the case resumed an hour later, he cautioned Mr Khyam that the jury could draw inferences from his refusal to give evidence. He told the jury that he would give legal directions about the matter when he summed up the case.

Mr Khyam said in his evidence last week: “The ISI was setting up training camps in what we called Free Kashmir, funding it with money and weapons, and people that would train people, and logistical supplies, everything.”

He described how he went to a training camp in Pakistan in January 2000, staying in the country for three months. He learnt how to use an AK47 rifle, rocket-propelled grenades and sniper rifles, studied climbing techniques and reconnaissance and underwent fitness training. At that stage he said he did not undergo explosives training, but learnt how to make bombs during a later visit to the country.

“People were selected by the ISI. The ISI works with Islamic groups. The group I was with, they wouldn’t let us train with the local Pakistanis. There would be a separate camp for the foreigners.”

It was through the ISI working with Islamic groups that his grandfather, who had served in the military, was able to trace Mr Khyam and bring him home to Crawley, West Sussex.

Mr Khyam had said already that there were questions he would refuse to answer because he did not want his evidence to lead to the arrest of people “still working for the cause”.

Mr Khyam, his brother, Shujah Mahmood, 19, Waheed Mahmood, 34, and Jawad Akbar, 23, all from Crawley; Salahuddin Amin, 31, from Luton, Anthony Garcia, 24, of Ilford, East London, and Nabeel Hussain, 21, of Horley, Surrey, deny conspiring to cause explosions likely to endanger life between January 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004. Mr Khyam, Mr Garcia and Mr Hussain also deny a charge under the Terrorism Act of possessing 1,300lb (600kg) of ammonium nitrate fertiliser for terrorism.

Mr Khyam and Shujah Mahmood further deny possessing aluminium powder for terrorism. The prosecution said that the group intended to mix it with aluminium powder to create a bomb. Bags of aluminium powder were discovered by police behind a shed at Mr Khyam’s family home.

Possible targets for an explosion included the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.

The case 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