Terror suspect Babar Ahmad is 'no al-Qaeda Rambo'

Babar Ahmad was arrested in a dawn raid on his home in south London in 2003

A terror suspect who claims he was badly beaten up by police has said he is no "al-Qaeda-Jackie-Chan-Rambo".

Southwark Crown Court was told that Babar Ahmad fought in the Bosnian war.

But the 37-year-old denied resisting officers arresting him in a dawn raid on his home in Fountain Road, Tooting, south London, in December 2003.

Pc Nigel Cowley, Det Con John Donohue, Pc Roderick James-Bowen and Pc Mark Jones all deny assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Engineering graduate Mr Ahmad was cross-examined by defence barristers during the hearing.

He was never charged in relation to the arrest but is in custody awaiting extradition to the US for alleged terrorism offences.

He confirmed to the court that he had been six to nine months away from getting a black belt in kung fu at the time and admitted he had travelled to Bosnia three or four times to fight during the 1992-1995 war.

Pc James-Bowen's defence barrister Richard Atchley accused Mr Ahmed of battling like a "caged tiger" during his arrest.

However, Mr Ahmad said he did not struggle and claimed he thought he was going to die when the officers allegedly attacked him at home and on the journey to Charing Cross police station.

"I did not fight at all in any description whatsoever," he told the jury.

Shrapnel wound

Neil Saunders, representing Pc Jones, asked Mr Ahmad if he had lied to his family by not telling them he was going to Bosnia to fight.

Mr Ahmad denied lying but said he had not told his parents everything that had happened because he did not want them to worry.

He said he had originally gone to Bosnia to help refugees but had taken up arms after witnessing terrible events.

Mr Ahmad said that in one battle he had received a shrapnel wound to the head, probably from a grenade.

He said: "After I got there and the things that I saw there, I didn't just want to give food and water to women who were gang-raped. I wanted to stop it, so I joined the Bosnian Army."

Mr Ahmad added that his war zone experience had not left him prepared to fight in any circumstances. He had "nothing to gain and everything to lose" by resisting the officers, he said.

Mr Saunders went on to say that Mr Ahmad's account of the events of his arrest was a lie because his key allegations did not tally with a recording made by an MI5 bug which had been hidden in his home.

He said the recording, played to the jury, did not include any screams of agony and that no officers could be heard mocking Mr Ahmad's faith by forcing him into a Muslim prayer position and asking "Where is your God now?"

"It was said," said Mr Ahmad. "I will never forget those words."

The trial was adjourned until Tuesday.