Image copyright Julia Quenzler Image caption Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman (left) and Mohammad Aqib Imran in court last December

A London man has denied plotting to kill Theresa May in a bomb attack.

Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, from Finchley is accused of preparing a terror attack targeting Downing Street.

He is also charged with assisting Mohammad Aqib Imran, 22, from Birmingham, who allegedly tried to join the Islamic State group and is charged with preparing acts of terror.

Both men appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link from Belmarsh Prison on Friday. They deny the allegations.

The two men were arrested in counter-terrorism police raids in London and Birmingham in November last year.

'Rucksack explosive'

Mr Rahman, who faces a charge of preparing acts of terrorism in relation to the alleged Downing Street plot, is accused of carrying out reconnaissance of the target location, recording a pledge of allegiance and buying a rucksack.

It is alleged he dropped off the rucksack and a jacket to be fitted with improvised explosive devices and collected them "with a view to committing attacks against persons in the UK".

Mr Rahman also faces a separate charge of assisting Mr Imran in allegedly preparing acts of terror.

The charge says Mr Rahman recorded a sponsorship video which would have allegedly helped Mr Imran to be accepted into IS.

Meanwhile, Mr Imran, of Sparkbrook, is accused of possession of the sponsorship video and trying to get hold of a fake passport.

He also researched terror publications and downloaded a copy of How To Survive In The West - A Mujahid's Guide 2015, it is alleged.

The judge, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, remanded the defendants in custody.

The pair will stand trial on 18 June.</s>A man who wanted to join Islamic State has denied plotting to assassinate Theresa May in an attack on Downing Street.

Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, pleaded not guilty on Friday to preparing acts of terrorism before his arrest on 28 November last year. It is alleged he carried out reconnaissance of the target location, recorded a pledge of allegiance and purchased a rucksack.

According to the charge, he collected the rucksack and a jacket to be fitted with an improvised explosive device “with a view to committing attacks against persons in the UK”.

Rahman, of Finchley, north London, also allegedly assisted Mohammad Aqib Imran, 22, in his terrorism plans.

On or before 28 November, Rahman recorded and sent to Imran “a sponsorship video in order for him to be accepted by Islamic State”, the charge says.

Imran, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, allegedly tried to join Isis, and is charged with preparing acts of terrorism. His charge alleges that he saved money to pay for a fake passport and travel to Libya, and sent two photos of his passport data to secure a fake passport.

He carried out online research into travel options and terrorist publications and had an Isis-sponsorship video sent by Rahman, the charge says.

He also downloaded How To Survive in the West – A Mujahid’s Guide 2015, it is claimed.

Rahman and Imran were arrested in raids by the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command in London and Birmingham.

The pair appeared at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Haddon-Cave via videolink from Belmarsh prison. They spoke only to confirm their identities and enter not-guilty pleas. They were remanded in custody ahead of their trial on 18 June.</s>A man accused of plotting to kill British Prime Minister Theresa May pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges in a London court on Friday.

Naa’imur Rahman is accused of planning to detonate an explosive device at the gates of Downing Street to gain access to May’s office and kill her in the ensuing chaos.

He appeared by video link at London’s Old Bailey central criminal court, ahead of his trial which is due to start in June.

Rahman has been accused of conducting reconnaissance on Downing Street and planning to use a bag fitted with an explosive device in preparations for “committing attacks against persons in the United Kingdom”, according to a charge sheet.

Rahman, who was arrested in November, is also accused of helping another man, Mohammad Imran to join the Islamic State militant group by recording and sending him a sponsorship video.

Imran pleaded not guilty on Friday to a charge of planning to travel to Libya to join Islamic State, possessing the video made by Rahman, conducting research into travel options and having terrorist publications.

Rahman, from north London, has said he is British-Bangladeshi, while Imran has said he is British.

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This post was syndicated from Vanguard News. Click here to read the full text on the original website.</s>PLOT: Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman is accused of plotting to blow up Theresa May

Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, pleaded not guilty to preparing acts of terrorism before his arrest on November 28 last year.

It is claimed he carried out reconnaissance of the target location, recorded a pledge of allegiance, and purchased a rucksack.

According to the charge, he delivered the rucksack and jacket to be fitted with an improvised explosive device, and collected it "with a view to committing attacks against persons in the UK".

The defendant, of Finchley, north London, also allegedly assisted Mohammad Aqib Imran, 22, in his terrorism plans.

On or before November 28, Rahman recorded and sent to Imran "a sponsorship video in order for him to be accepted by Islamic State", the charge says.</s>An alleged Islamic State fanatic has denied plotting to assassinate Theresa May in an attack on Downing Street.

Naa'imur Rahman, 20, planned to detonate an explosion at the security gates of Number 10 before stabbing the Prime Minister on 28 November, it is alleged.

It is alleged he carried out reconnaissance of the target location, recorded a pledge of allegiance, and purchased a rucksack.

According to prosecutors, he delivered the rucksack and jacket to be fitted with an improvised explosive device, and collected it 'with a view to committing attacks against persons in the UK'.

The defendant, of Finchley, north London, also allegedly assisted Mohammad Aqib Imran, 22, in his terrorism plans.

On or before November 28, Rahman recorded and sent to Imran 'a sponsorship video in order for him to be accepted by Islamic State', the charge says.

Imran, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, allegedly tried to join ISIS, and is charged with preparing acts of terrorism.

His charge alleges that he saved money to pay for a fake passport and travel to Libya, and sent two photos of his passport data to secure a fake passport.

Rahman and Imran were arrested in raids by the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command in London and Birmingham.

The pair appeared at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Haddon-Cave via video-link from Belmarsh Prison.

They spoke only to confirm their identities and enter not-guilty pleas.

They were remanded in custody ahead of their trial at the Old Bailey on June 18.

He sat cross-legged on a chair next to his co-defendant, who has long curly hair and a beard and wore a pink sweatshirt and grey trousers.</s>LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party avoided a wipeout in London local elections and eked out gains in Brexit-supporting regions elsewhere, early results on Friday (May 4) showed, although her Labour opponents did gain ground in the capital.

The elections are viewed as a gauge of public support for May as she faces a possible revolt in parliament over her strategy for leaving the European Union.

Partial results showed May was likely to avoid the kind of widespread losses that would dramatically weaken her authority over Conservative lawmakers ahead of key tests of her plans to pull out of the EU customs union.

May's party held onto control of Wandsworth council - a low-tax Conservative stronghold since the time of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. The council had been one of the socialist-led Labour Party's more ambitious targets in Thursday's vote.

Votes will decide more than 4,400 council seats, determining the makeup of 150 local government authorities who are responsible for the day-to-day provision of public services.

They do not affect seats in parliament, where May has only a slim working majority thanks to a deal with a smaller party.

The Conservatives also held the symbolic council of Westminster in the heart of London's political district, indicating that the final scale of losses in the capital would come in at the lower end of the predicted range.

Despite retaining overall control, the Conservatives lost individual seats in Westminster and Wandsworth.

Ruling parties typically suffer losses at local elections and polls ahead of the vote predicted a bad night in London for the Conservatives after eight years in power. May is also negotiating an exit from the EU that 60 percent of the capital rejected at the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Results elsewhere in London's 32 boroughs showed the forecast swing to Labour in the capital had materialised, although not strongly enough to inflict the heavy losses that would pose a serious headache for May.

UKIP COLLAPSE Outside London, the Conservatives regained control of councils in the pro-Brexit regions of Peterborough and Basildon, largely at the expense of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP).

UKIP has suffered leadership issues and struggled for a new purpose since achieving its primary political aim at the 2016 Brexit referendum when Britons decided to leave the EU.

But May's party lost control of the highly prized council in the Trafford area of the northern city of Manchester - its only foothold in an important Labour-dominated economic region where the Conservatives have spent years trying to win support.

The overall tally, due around 1900 GMT, will offer the most complete snapshot of public opinion since an election last year in which the Conservatives suffered unexpected losses, leaving May weakened and her party arguing openly about Brexit.

May will remain under pressure from rival Conservative factions: those who want to keep close ties with the EU by staying in the customs union, and others who say anything short of a clean break is a betrayal of the Brexit referendum result.

That issue is expected to come to a head with at least one vote on it in parliament next month.</s>An alleged Islamic State supporter has denied plotting to assassinate the Prime Minister.

Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, from north London, is accused of planning an assault at the gates of Downing Street.

At the Old Bailey, Rahman pleaded not guilty to preparing acts of terrorism on or before November 28 last year.

The charges allege he "conducted reconnaissance of his target, recorded a pledge of allegiance and purchased a rucksack".

It is said he then "delivered the rucksack and a jacket to be fitted with an IED, and collected the rucksack and jacket with a view to committing attacks against persons in the UK".

A second defendant, Mohammad Aqib Imran, 22, from Birmingham, has pleaded not guilty to preparing acts of terrorism on the same date by planning to fight abroad for IS.

It was claimed he "saved money to pay for a fake passport and travel to Libya, communicated with another online and sent two copies of his passport data page to secure a fake passport".

He then allegedly "conducted online research into travel options and terrorist publications, possessed an Islamic State sponsorship video made by Rahman, and downloaded 'How to Survive in the West, a Mujahid's Guide' and put into effect a number of the instructions contained within it".

Rahman allegedly assisted in preparing acts of terrorism by sending Imran a "sponsorship video in order for him to be accepted by Islamic State".

Both men appeared by video link from Belmarsh jail and were remanded in custody ahead of a trial beginning on 18 June.</s>An alleged ISIS fanatic accused of plotting to assassinate Theresa May in an attack on Downing Street has denied a terror charge.

In a hearing at the Old Bailey this morning, Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, pleaded not guilty to preparing acts of terrorism.

He was arrested on November 28 last year, and prosecutors alleged that he carried out reconnaissance of the target location, recorded a pledge of allegiance, and purchased a rucksack.

According to the charge, he delivered the rucksack and jacket to be fitted with an improvised explosive device, and collected it "with a view to committing attacks against persons in the UK".

The defendant, of Finchley, north London, also allegedly assisted Mohammad Aqib Imran, 22, in his terrorism plans.

On or before November 28, Rahman recorded and sent to Imran "a sponsorship video in order for him to be accepted by Islamic State", the charge says.

Imran, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, allegedly tried to join IS, and is charged with preparing acts of terrorism.

His charge alleges that he saved money to pay for a fake passport and travel to Libya, and sent two photos of his passport data to secure a fake passport.

He carried out online research into travel options and terrorist publications and had an IS-sponsorship video sent by Rahman, the charge says.

He also downloaded How To Survive In The West - A Mujahid's Guide 2015, it is claimed.

Rahman and Imran were arrested in raids by the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command in London and Birmingham.

The pair appeared at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Haddon-Cave via video-link from Belmarsh Prison.

They spoke only to confirm their identities and enter not-guilty pleas.

They were remanded in custody ahead of their trial at the Old Bailey on June 18.

He sat cross-legged on a chair next to his co-defendant, who has long curly hair and a beard and wore a pink sweatshirt and grey trousers.</s>Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party avoided a wipeout in London local elections and eked out gains in Brexit-supporting regions elsewhere, results on Friday showed, denting the opposition Labour Party’s hopes of a big win. The elections are viewed as a gauge of public support for May as she faces a possible revolt in parliament over her strategy for leaving the European Union. With two thirds of results declared, May had avoided the kind of widespread losses that would have weakened her authority over Conservative lawmakers ahead of key tests of her plans to take Britain out of the EU customs union as it quits the bloc. “These results are as good as any government party after eight years in power could expect,” said Tony Travers, a professor at the London School of Economics Department of Government.

“They’ll be a relief for May and the Conservative Party as a whole because they’re suggestive that despite the fact the Conservatives are in an on-and-off civil war over Brexit, the Labour Party’s problems are possibly worse.” Against a backdrop of heightened expectations for the Labour Party, the ballot also showed the limitations of its recent resurgence under veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn. May’s party held on to control of Wandsworth council – a low-tax Conservative stronghold since the time of late prime minister Margaret Thatcher. The council had been one of Labour’s more ambitious targets in Thursday’s vote and one it campaigned heavily to win. “Labour will have to do far, far better than this in local elections in future to suggest they are convincing the electorate more generally,” Travers said.

Voting decides more than 4,400 council seats, determining the makeup of 150 local government authorities who are responsible for the day-to-day provision of public services. They do not affect seats in parliament, where May has only a slim working majority thanks to a deal with a smaller party. The Conservatives also held the symbolic council of Westminster, London’s political district, indicating that the final scale of losses in the capital would come in at the lower end of the predicted range. Despite retaining overall control, the Conservatives lost individual seats in Westminster and Wandsworth. Ruling parties typically suffer losses at local elections and opinion polls had predicted a bad night in London for the Conservatives after eight years in power.

May is also negotiating an exit from the EU that 60 percent of the capital rejected at the 2016 Brexit referendum. Results elsewhere in London’s 32 boroughs showed the forecast swing to Labour in the capital had materialised, although not strongly enough to inflict the heavy losses that would pose a serious headache for May. Corbyn has endured fierce criticism over the handling of anti-Semitism within his party. Critics also say he misjudged his response to military action in Syria and a row with Moscow over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in southern England. Despite intensive campaigning, Labour did not take overall control of Barnet, a borough previously thought to be easily winnable. May’s Conservatives won back control of the borough, which has the largest Jewish population of any single council area in the country.

Outside London, the Conservatives regained control of councils in the pro-Brexit regions of Peterborough and Basildon, largely at the expense of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP). UKIP has suffered leadership issues and struggled for a new purpose since achieving its primary political aim at the 2016 Brexit referendum when Britons decided to leave the EU. “The Conservative Party has been reminded tonight that the electorate that it now has is disproportionately a ‘Leave’ electorate,” polling expert John Curtice told the BBC. “Therefore, above all, it seems to me that what the Conservative Party has to be able to do in the coming weeks and months is to deliver on Brexit in a way that will satisfy the aspirations of ‘Leave’ voters,” he said.

But May’s party lost control of the highly prized council in the Trafford area of the northern city of Manchester – its only foothold in an Labour-dominated important economic region where the Conservatives have spent years trying to win support. The overall tally, not due until 1900 GMT, will offer the most complete snapshot of public opinion since an election last year in which the Conservatives suffered unexpected losses, leaving May weakened and her party arguing openly about Brexit. May will remain under pressure from rival Conservative factions: those who want to keep close ties with the EU by staying in the customs union, and others who say anything short of a clean break is a betrayal of the Brexit referendum result.</s>A man who wanted to join Islamic State has denied plotting to assassinate Theresa May in an attack on Downing Street.

In a hearing today, Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman pleaded not guilty to preparing acts of terrorism before his arrest on 28 November last year.

Rahman has been accused of conducting reconnaissance of Downing Street and planning to use a bag fitted with an explosive device in preparations for “committing attacks against persons in the United Kingdom”, according to a charge sheet.

Rahman, who was arrested in November, is also accused of helping another man, Mohammad Imran, to join the Islamic State militant group by recording and sending him a sponsorship video.
Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman, from London, formally denies an ISIL plot to murder Theresa May.