Blair also on Al Qaeda hit list
30 Aug 2008, 1213 Hrs

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London, Aug.30 (ANI): Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is one of the targets of Al Qaeda.

A man accused of plotting to kill Blair's successor Gordon Brown, is reported to have also urged extremists to eliminate Blair and other "non-believers", a court was told yesterday. According to The Sun, Ishaq Kanmi, 22, allegedly posted messages on an Islamic website, recruiting for al-Qaeda. He also claimed he was the organisation's British leader, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.

He and brothers Abbas Iqbal, 23, and Ilyas Iqbal, 21, all from Blackburn, Lancs, were charged with multiple terror offences.

Ishaq Kanmi, 22, from Blackburn, Lancashire, was charged with soliciting murder and belonging, or claiming to belong, to al-Qaeda. He also been charged with inviting support for a proscribed organization and for disseminating terrorist publications.

Abbas Iqbal, 23, also from Blackburn, has been charged with disseminating terrorist publications and possession of an article for the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

Ilyas Iqbal, 21, has been charged with a similar charge of possessing an article for the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism and also of making a record of information likely to be useful to a person committing an act of terrorism, reports The Telegraph.

Two of the men were arrested on August 14 at Manchester Airport as they prepared to leave the country and the third was arrested at work in Accrington, Lancashire.

Their arrests were the culmination of an operation led by Lancashire police, supported by officers from the Greater Manchester Police Counter Terrorism Unit.

Ilyas indicated a not guilty plea and is to reappear at the same court. The other two will appear at London's Old Bailey on October 1. (ANI)