'Afghan holy war Tube driver was framed by MI5'

THE Tube driver accused of plotting holy war in Afghanistan was framed by the British security services after he refused to become a mole for MI5, a court heard.

Bakerloo line driver Amir Ali, 28, allegedly bought survival equipment, booked a flight to Pakistan and begged his wife's forgiveness in a farewell letter.

Police are said to have found photos at Ali's Ilford home of him brandishing AK47 assault rifles. But his barrister told Snaresbrook crown court that MI5 sought to frame Ali when he refused to act as their spy.

"The security services embarked on a strategy to tear the whole of Mr Ali's life apart," said Lawrence McNulty. "Despite all that Mr Ali would not change his mind. We suggest that these court proceedings are the final part in the strategy."

Father-of-two Ali said he was approached by the security services at Heathrow in June 2007 shortly before boarding a flight to Pakistan.

The officers confiscated £6,500 that Ali said he was given by his father for the trip and to pay for renovation work to a house in Karachi.

"They said they were going to stop me from going to Pakistan," said Ali. "They said: 'This doesn't have to happen if you work for us'. They wanted me to keep an eye on Muslims in my community and my mosque."

Ali denies preparation for acts of terrorism between April 2006 and March last year. The trial continues.