In 1999, writing under the name Esa Al Hindi, Barot published The Army of Medina in Kashmir. Apart from describing his life as a jihadi, he argued that Muslim countries needed 'flank protection' against the West, and urged attacks on the soil of 'interfering nations'.
According to the evidence presented by the prosecution, Barot planned the terror strikes in New York after intense reconnaissance by him during visits in August 2000 and March 2001.
In early 2004 he went again to Pakistan on a false passport to present the plans to senior al-Qaeda members in Lahore, and returned to Britain in April 2004.
In July 2004, police in Pakistan raided an extremist hideout and discovered evidence of the plot and links to Barot, which were handed over to the British authorities who arrested him from a barber's shop on August 3. Barot is also being investigated in US and Yemen.
Image : Barot's computer room in his home in west London - an address where Barot was surveilled. A hard drive in the computer contained the raw research for much of content of the UK targeting plan.
Also read: A blow to Al Qaeda
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