LONDON (Reuters) - A British Airways computer expert appeared in court on Thursday on charges of planning suicide bombings, with prosecutors saying he tried to get a place as a stand-in cabin crew member during a proposed strike.
Bangladesh-born Rajib Karim, 30, of Newcastle upon Tyne, faced three charges under counter terrorism legislation.
He is accused of two counts of planning suicide bombings and his own martyrdom. One charge involves Britain and the other alleges that he plotted with contacts in his home country, Pakistan and Yemen, the Press Association reported.
It is alleged that he deliberately stayed in Britain, obtaining a passport and getting a job at the airline to further the conspiracy.
Prosecutor Colin Gibbs told City of Westminster Magistrates' Court the charge sheet alleges he shared information about his work, including security measures, and offered to take advantage of planned strikes by BA staff to join the airline's cabin crew.
A planned strike by BA cabin crew over Christmas was halted by a court ruling over the legality of the ballot.
The computer expert also faced a third charge alleging he collected money and transferred it through trusted associates and wire services to associates overseas linked to terrorism.
All three offences are alleged to have taken place between April 2006 and February this year.
Karim was arrested by officers from Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command, working with colleagues in the northeast, on February 25.
They raided the office complex where he worked in Newcastle as a computer software developer and searched his home in the city.
District Judge Timothy Workman remanded Karim in custody and adjourned the case until March 26 at the Old Bailey.
(Editing by Steve Addison)
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