NEW YORK: A British terror convict has told a New York trial he met Osama bin Laden up to 50 times and was recruited by Al Qaeda to blow up a passenger jet.

Saajid Badat was sentenced in 2005 to 13 years in jail as a co-conspirator in the notorious shoe bombing plot in December 2001, a time of worldwide concern over air travel after the September 11 attacks in the United States.

The 34-year-old has been dubbed a “supergrass,” slang for informant, by the British media for agreeing to testify against a slew of former associates.

He was released early from prison in Britain, where authorities have given him accommodation and financial help, and he gave evidence from an undisclosed location on Monday because he faces arrest in America.

Badat is the second US government witness to appear at the trial of Suleiman Abu Ghaith, a son-in-law of bin Laden and former Al Qaeda spokesman, who is on trial in Manhattan for conspiracy to kill Americans, conspiracy to provide support and providing material support to terrorists.

The prosecution showed the jury two videos of the defendant in October 2001 threatening Americans with a “storm of airplanes,” which they say implicates him in the shoe bomb plot.

“The storm shall not lessen especially the storm of the airplanes,” Abu Ghaith shouted in one of the propaganda clips.

But the defence says there is no evidence tying Abu Ghaith, 48, to the conspiracy and brands Badat, who looked worried and unhappy throughout more than two hours of testimony, the real terrorist.—AFP