(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-04-05 10:04

Six Britons accused of plotting to blow up at least seven transatlantic airliners recorded martyrdom videos saying the attacks were revenge for the US invasion of Iraq, a London court said on Friday.

In extracts played and read to the jury, the men said their mission was to punish non-Muslims and warned of "floods of martyrdom operations" because governments had ignored the warnings of Osama bin Laden.

"If you think you can go into our lands and do what you are doing in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and keep on supporting those who are fighting against Muslims and think it will not come back on your own doorstep may you have another thing coming," Umar Islam, one of the eight defendants said.

On Thursday, the court was told that the men had planned to use liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks to simultaneously blow up at least seven transatlantic aircraft in mid-air, causing mass casualties on an almost unprecedented scale.

In total, up to 18 suicide bombers may have taken part in the planned attack, the prosecution said.

The eight British citizens, all charged with conspiracy to murder, were on trial at Woolwich Crown Court, a maximum security site in east London.

They are accused of plotting "to commit an act of violence likely to endanger the safety of an aircraft".

They deny the charges.

Prosecutor Peter Wright said the suicide videos had been discovered in a camera in Sarwar's car and on a cassette tape in the garage of his home.

"Each contained similar chilling sentiments," Wright said.