Britain's landmarks among terror targets, court hears

LONDON, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Big Ben and Heathrow Airport were among landmarks targeted by a British man who was "fascinated" by the so-called Islamic State, BBC reported Tuesday.

Umar Ahmed Haque, 25, from east London, is on trial at the Old Bailey in London alongside three other men.

Mark Heywood QC, opening the case, said Haque had decided to "carry out one or more violent attacks" in Britain and had "identified methods and targets".

The court heard his other intended targets included the courts, Transport for London, Shia Muslims, Westfield shopping centres, banks, the City of London, Parliament, the English Defence League, foreign embassies and media stations.

Heywood said the defendant was "fascinated" by the "warped and extreme ideology" of the banned Islamic State group, and that after arrest he told police that "he was their loyal follower".

Haque, a religious teacher, allegedly enlisted the help and support of others at his local mosque where he allegedly tried to groom children with "role play" and extremist videos. Enditem