Terrorism suspects deny plans for UK attack

Image caption, Rowaida El-Hassan (left) is from London and Munir Hassan Mohammed is from Derby

A man and woman have pleaded not guilty to making preparations for a terrorism attack in the UK.

Munir Hassan Mohammed, 36, and Rowaida El-Hassan, 32, denied at the Old Bailey of planning to make a bomb or poison to use against British citizens.

Mr Mohammed denied a total of three terrorism offences, while Ms El-Hassan pleaded not guilty to two charges.

The pair, who were arrested during anti-terrorism raids, were remanded in custody and await trial in June.

Mr Mohammed, an Eritrean national seeking asylum in the UK, and Ms El-Hassan were arrested on 12 December.

They are jointly charged with preparing an act of terrorism between 7 July 2016 and their arrest last year.

The pair both pleaded not guilty to researching, planning and obtaining materials to produce an "improvised explosive device or poison" with a view to committing an attack in the UK.

Mr Mohammed, of Leopold Street, Derby, is further charged with being a member of Islamic State (IS).

He faces one other charge relating to the possession of information useful to terrorism and dissemination of terrorist publications.

Ms El-Hassan, of Willesden Lane, London, is further charged with possessing instructions on how to build an explosive device inside a mobile phone.

The pair were among six people arrested across the country, the rest of whom were released without charge.