Hundreds of nightclub-goers stood unaware as a car bomb was planted outside the packed venue, a jury heard.
Hundreds of nightclub-goers stood unaware as a car bomb was planted outside the packed venue, a jury heard.
Dr Bilal Abdulla, 29, parked a Mercedes packed with gas and petrol outside Tiger Tiger in Piccadilly, London, in the early hours of June 29 last year, it is alleged.
Woolwich Crown Court heard how the venue's general manager, Bruce Beattie, grew concerned about a strong smell of gas coming from the car.
He said: "Tom (Peek, head doorman) and I could begin to smell gas and we were getting a bit concerned.
"We looked in the back of the car and could just see blankets in the back seat . . . it was at that point that we thought it wasn't safe."
The car was parked at an angle with the headlights left on, and white vapour was visible inside, he said.
Nearly 600 customers and staff were evacuated from the venue, including Edward Smythe, who then unwittingly came across a second car bomb left by Kafeel Ahmed in nearby Cockspur Street.
The jury was shown CCTV footage of both devices being planted, including a chilling film of drinkers in Tiger Tiger with the car bomb visible through the bar's glass doors.
Neither device went off, because mobile phone detonators failed.
The next day, Ahmed drove a Jeep, also carrying a deadly cargo, into a terminal building at Glasgow Airport. He later died from burns.
It is claimed that Ahmed and Dr Abdulla made the three car bombs while a third man, Dr Mohammed Asha, provided cash and advice behind the scenes.
The jury heard how a charred laptop found in the four-wheel-drive revealed internet searches for possible targets among London's nightclubs. Websites had been scoured for events on Thursday night at venues around the centre of the city.
The computer had also been used to look for details on the combustion of petrol.
The court heard that Ahmed and Dr Abdulla began buying "bomb components" as early as May 24 last year when orders were placed over the internet for electrical circuitry.
Five days later Ahmed was caught on CCTV in Keighley, Yorkshire, buying £50 worth of nails and screws, plus gloves, a hammer and pliers at a B&Q store.
He was also seen buying 25l water carriers and other equipment in Edinburgh in mid-June.
But just a week before the London attacks he and Dr Abdulla were captured on CCTV cameras in Delph Lane, Warrington, wheeling a trolley with a large green gas canister inside.
Dr Abdulla and Dr Asha are on trial for conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions, which they deny.
The trial continues.
