A 25-year-old Algerian suspected of links to the Al-Quaeda terrorist organisation told police he had no connections with Islamic terrorist groups, a Belfast court heard yesterday.
Mr Abbas Boutrab was arrested last week following the seizure of documents and computer discs in his flat at 2E Whitehouse Court, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, near Belfast, last April.
Since then he has been held in Maghaberry Prison, Co Antrim, as an illegal immigrant while police and translators examined the discs which contained thousands of pages of Arabic script. Some of the pages are alleged to have contained detailed instructions that could be of use to terrorists.
The seized documents included false passports and identities alleged to have been used in the Netherlands, France and the Republic of Ireland. Police also seized stolen mobile phones containing stored numbers alleged to have been identified with terrorist investigations in Europe.
An interpreter translated the proceedings when Boutrab appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court on three charges brought under the Terrorism Act of 2000.
The first charge alleged that he received instruction or training in the making or use of explosives. The second charge related to the possession of floppy discs, CD roms and false identities in circumstances giving rise to suspicion they were connected to terrrorism. The final charge concerned the possession of documents and records alleged to contain information likely to be useful to anyone planning or committing an act of terrorism. All three offences were alleged to have take place between July, 2002, when Mr Boutrab is believed to have illegally entered Northern Ireland from the Republic, and his arrest last April. Detective Sgt W M Ennis said Mr Boutrab replied to all three charges: "I am not guilty." The officer added that he believed he could connect Mr Boutrab with the charges.
Questioned by defence solicitor Mr Joe Rice, he said Mr Boutrab had totally denied any connections with Islamic terrorist groups but had admitted breaches of the immigration laws in a number of countries.
He said Mr Boutrab had given police an explanation as to how he came into possession of the materials and documents seized at his flat, but said he would not have kept them if he had known they were prohibited or illegal.
The detective agreed that Mr Boutrab said he was a victim of racial discrimination and denied any involvement in crime.
He was remanded in custody until December 8th.