Terror suspect 'had never heard of al-Qaida'

A suspected Muslim extremist accused of helping to plot the September 11 attacks in the United States said today he had never even heard of al-Qaida until he was arrested four years ago on suspicion of leading one of its cells.

Imad Yarkas condemned the suicide airliner attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in 2001, saying in a Madrid court today that such acts are banned under Islam.