Fourth man faces PM threat charge

A man charged with terror offences linked to an alleged threat to kill Prime Minister Gordon Brown was remanded into custody today.

Muhammad Ali Mumtaz Ahmad, 24, from Blackburn, Lancashire, is accused of possessing terrorist material such as camouflage clothes and plans for "urban combat".

He appeared before City of Westminster Magistrates' Court and was remanded until September 11 when he will appear at the same court.

Ahmad will also attend court on September 19 for a committal hearing.

The defendant spoke to confirm his name and personal details and indicate he would enter a not guilty plea.

Ahmad, who is white, wore a black cloth cap and blue shirt and sat with his head bowed during the short hearing.

The father of one, who works in Boots, was refused bail by Judge Timothy Workman.

Peter McDonagh, prosecuting, said the alleged offence related to the clothes and to documents containing information on "attack planning and urban combat" and is said to have taken place before August 14.

Ahmad is the fourth man to be charged by police investigating the alleged threat against Mr Brown and his predecessor Tony Blair which it is claimed appeared on a jihadi website.

Last week Ishaq Kanmi, 22, and brothers Ilyas and Abbas Iqbal, who are also from Blackburn, were remanded into custody at the same court.

Kanmi is charged with soliciting murder and being a member of al Qaida. Ilyas Iqbal, 21, is accused of owning terrorist material and researching terror. Abbas Iqbal, 23, is charged with owning terrorist material and spreading terrorist literature.

Greater Manchester Police are also questioning a 29-year-old man arrested in Derby last week.