'Plotters made martyrdom videos'

Several men accused of plotting to blow up passenger planes mid-air as they crossed the Atlantic made Islamic martyrdom videos, a court has heard.

Six of the eight men recorded videos in which one warns of "martyrdom operations" which would "rain down" on non-believers, jurors were told.

They also researched other targets, including power stations and London's Canary Wharf, prosecutors said.

All eight men deny conspiring to murder and endangering aircraft in 2006.

Their arrests in August that year led to a ban on passengers carrying most liquids on board aircraft.

The jury at Woolwich Crown Court was played or read extracts from a number of alleged suicide videos, in which men were seen speaking in front of a black flag featuring Arabic writing.

One man, said to be defendant Umar Islam, described his plans as "revenge" for the actions of the United States and its "accomplices such as the British and the Jews".

He warned: "Martyrdom operations upon martyrdom operations will keep on raining on these kuffars [non-believers] until they release us and leave our lands."

He went on to argue British citizens were legitimate targets because they had paid taxes that funded the Army.

"Most of you are too busy watching Home and Away and EastEnders, complaining about the World Cup and drinking alcohol, too busy to care. I know because I come from that," he said.