A Tower Hamlets man appeared at the Old Bailey today in connection with a Christmas bombing plot and was remanded in custody.

Mohammed Chowdhury, 20, of Stanliff House, Cassilis Road on the Isle of Dogs, was arrested on December 20 and faces charges including conspiracy to cause an explosion and being involved in preparation to commit an act of terrorism.

He and eight other men from London, Cardiff and Stoke-on-Trent appeared today by videolink and were remanded to another hearing on February 25.

It is alleged that the group were targeting landmark sites in London including the Stock Exchange, the Houses of Parliament and the US Embassy in the run-up to Christmas,

The charges against the nine men relate to the period between November 6 and December 21 last year.

The charge of preparing to commit an act of terrorism includes agreeing potential targets, carrying out reconnaissance, attending meetings, igniting and testing incendiary material and researching and discussing materials and methods.

Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said their trial would not take place until at least January next year.

The venue is likely to be Woolwich Crown Court but he will listen to representations from lawyers about alternative courts.

The other defendant from London is Shah Mohammed Lutfar Rahman, 28, of St Bernard’s Road, Newham.

The defendants from Cardiff were Gurukanth Desai, 29, of Albert Street, Omar Sharif Latif, 27, of Neville Street and Abdul Malik Miah, 24, of Ninian Park Road.

The defendants from Stoke-on-Trent are Nazam Hussain, 25, of Grove Street; Usman Khan, 19, of Persia Walk; Mohibur Rahman, 26, of North Road and Abdul Mohammed Shahjahan, 26, of Burmarsh Walk.