Terror Suspect’s Manual of Western Targets Included Nuclear Plants, British Prosecutor Says

London-based Islamic cleric Abu Hamza possessed a terrorism manual containing a list of potential high-profile international targets, including nuclear power plants, Agence France-Presse reported yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 21, 2003).

The “Encyclopedia of Afghani Jihad,” found at the cleric’s west London home, recommends attacks on famous sites such as Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower, prosecutors said yesterday at Hamza’s trial.

Hamza, a British citizen, faces 15 charges, one of which is related to the encyclopedia. Prosecutors allege the manual contains information “likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.”

“This … is a blueprint, a manual for terrorism which echoes the things which feature in the defendant’s speeches,” said prosecutor David Perry.

Hamza has denied the charges — which include nine counts of “soliciting to murder” — and said he received the encyclopedia as a gift but had never read it, according to AFP (Agence France-Presse/Bernama.com, Jan. 11).

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