A man told a court that he learned about weapons and explosives and prepared for holy war at an al Qaida training camp allegedly attended by terror suspect Jose Padilla.

A member of an unrelated terrorist group testified today he learned about weapons and explosives and prepared for jihad at an al-Qaida training camp which prosecutors say alleged terrorist Jose Padilla also attended.

US prosecutors and lawyers for alleged al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla and two co-defendants were poised to start opening statements today in a trial expected to last well into August.

Jose Padilla, the alleged al-Qaida operative held as an “enemy combatant” for more than three years, was en route to Miami tonight to face charges that he was part of a US terror cell that recruited fighters and raised money for global Islamic holy war.

Two men awaiting trial on charges of recruiting soldiers for worldwide radical Islamic holy war were today ordered to remain in solitary confinement after prosecutors said they could continue spreading Muslim extremism if allowed into the regular jail population.