A 22-YEAR-OLD accused of conspiring to blow up passenger jets has denied any involvement in the bomb plot.

Adam Khatib, from Wellington Road, in Walthamstow, is accused of assisting Abdulla Ahmed Ali, from Walthamstow, who was convicted last month of conspiracy to murder, a jury has heard.

The 22-year-old who is charged with conspiracy to murder, told the jury at Woolwich Crown Court this week that he and Ali were simply friends and that a joint trip to Lahore in Pakistan was not related to terrorism.

He also said he was a rebel at school and that an essay he wrote about joining al-Qaeda was written because he liked to push the boundaries.

The prosecution claim Mr Khatib's fingerprints were found on an empty packet of latex gloves in Ali's "bomb factory" at a flat in Forest Road, Walthamstow.

But Khatib, who admits he visited the flat, says the gloves were given to him by Ali because he has a bike with an oily chain.

He also told the court that he saw no evidence of bomb-making equipment, or of a video camera and flag used by to make martyrdom videos.

He also denies that hydrogen peroxide seized from his home was for making bombs, but was for treating cuts on his hands from his former place of work, blade distribution company Pema Rules, in Leyton.

Khatib told the court he was shocked when the police arrived at his home to arrest him and thought it was because of previous driving offences.

He said: “I thought it must be something to do with my driving. Then I thought it might be to do with terrorism.

"It is not every day officers come into your room with bullet-proof vests on. I was in bed and they told me to get up and were asking me questions, asking whether I knew where explosives were.

“It was pretty obvious it was about terrorism. I was shocked but kind of relieved because I knew I hadn't been involved in terrorism.”

Anthony Chin QC, defending Khatib, told the court that Khatib spent 14 days in custody at Paddington Green police station.

The court heard that Khatib was climbing the walls, threw water at a CCTV camera and swore at officers on several occasions.

Khatib said in defence: “I didn't really like being locked up but that is no excuse for the way I behaved. I was amusing myself because I was bored.”

Khatib is on trial alongside Nabeel Hussain, 25, from Chingford, and Mohammed Shamin Uddin, 39, from Stoke Newington, who both deny terrorism offences.

The trial continues.