Terror suspect 'planned to assassinate Tony Blair'

A man accused of plotting a terrorist attack in the UK may have intended to assassinate Tony Blair and his wife Cherie, an Old Bailey jury has heard.

Erol Incedal appeared before the court accused of plotting an assault similar to the co-ordinated gun and bomb attacks in Mumbai in 2008 that left more than 160 people dead.

The former prime minister's address was found in Incedal's black Mercedes car when it was pulled over following a traffic violation in September last year, prosecutor Richard Whittam QC said.

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Whittam said Incedal was planning an attack on "a number of individuals, an individual of significance or an... indiscriminate attack such as that in Mumbai in 2008".

Prosecutors pointed to messages retrieved from Incedal's phone that they say were written in code. One allegedly coded message referred to "k 11 22 aaa shhh", which the prosecution says could mean Kalashnikov rifles. Another, mentioned "mo88m 55bayy style", which the jury was told could be interpreted as a reference to a Mumbai-style attack.

Incedal denies preparing for acts of terrorism, the BBC reports.

The prosecution says that the Blairs' address was found written on a piece of paper that was found inside Incedal's glasses case. There was also a notebook with a handwritten note that read: "Oh you the believers, fight those of the infidel who are near to you. Why do you not fight in Allah's cause for those oppressed men, women and children who cry out: 'Rescue us from this town.'"

The jury heard that Incedal and another man, Mounir Rarmoul-Bouhadjar, were found carrying memory cards which allegedly contained a document relating to bomb-making. Rarmoul-Bouhadjar pleaded guilty to possessing material useful for terrorism last week, the jury were told.

The judge, Mr Justice Nicol, noted that parts of the trial would be held in secret: "This trial has some unusual features. The usual way that justice is administered is in public – some of this trial will be conducted in that way – however, there will be other sessions of this trial that will be conducted in private. The public will not be able to attend these."

The case continues.