Birkenhead man denies mosque blasts terrorist plot

A man has denied making improvised explosives and plotting to blow up mosques and Islamic centres.

Ian Forman, 42, of Shavington Avenue in Prenton, Birkenhead is charged with engaging in the conduct in the preparation of terrorist acts on or before 6 June. He appeared via videolink at Kingston Crown Court earlier. He was remanded in custody until his trial, also to be held at Kingston Crown Court and scheduled for 3 March.

Mr Forman was arrested on 5 September by officers from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit over concerns about chemical and explosive substances at a house in Wirral. He is charged under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

He is accused of possessing potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal, making and testing improvised explosive devices, and creating spreadsheets reflecting prices and stockists of the chemicals required.

Mr Forman is also accused of researching mosques and Islamic centres, labelling saved photographs of them “targets” and expressing an intention of “blowing them up” with the use of nails and ball bearings.

BBC News, 14 January 2014