AN Islamic extremist was encouraged to stay in his British Airways job and become a managing director of a UK terror team rather than become a martyr, a court heard yesterday.

Foreign terror chiefs viewed Rajib Karim’s position as a computer expert at the airline’s Newcastle offices as significant in any future attacks on jets or its computer systems, said Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting.

The 31-year-old is alleged to have plotted from his two-bedroom flat in Brunton Lane, Newcastle, while avoiding suspicion by playing football, training at a gym and caring for his wife and son.

However, Woolwich Crown Court heard yesterday that Karim was despondent over a lack of progress with his UK terror plans and was considering a move to join his brother, Tehzeeb, in Pakistan for “hijrah” – a journey for jihad.

Karim has already admitted his part in the production of a video for a terrorist group, fundraising and offering himself and encouraging others to volunteer for terrorism abroad.

But the Bangladeshi-born defendant denies four charges of preparing acts of terrorism between December 2006 and February last year.

Tehzeeb was usually in Bangladesh, but his network extended to Yemen and Pakistan, said Mr Laidlaw.

Tehzeeb wrote to his brother: “I hope you don’t have any doubt that all the citizens around you are Muhaaribeen (fighters or combatants).”

Karim, who moved to the UK in 2006, replied: “No, none whatsoever.”

The court heard terror chiefs valued his position with BA and wanted him to head a UK terror group.

Karim allegedly received this message in November 2007, a month after his brother referred to London’s 7/7 attacks in which 52 people died.

In the exchange, Tehzeeb was said to be discussing the development of a terror team.

The message, which was encrypted but cracked by Metropolitan Police, read: “A small team can also be the beginning of another July Seven, if the project I mentioned is taken seriously.”

Yesterday, Mr Laidlaw said evidence from Karim’s computer revealed he had sought advice from radical cleric Anwat al-Awlaqi, from his Yemen hideout, over targets, writing that the blood of 9/11 and 7/7 victims was permissible in Islamic law.

Karim is also alleged to have discussed attacks on BA computer hardware, which could have cost the company £20m a day.

The trial continues.