An alleged British al-Qaida cell was plotting multiple bomb attacks on the UK, with the explosions planned for the same day, the Old Bailey heard.

One of the principal alleged plotters, Omar Khyam, of Crawley, wanted simultaneous detonations or the bombs going off one after the other, according to supergrass Mohammed Babar.

Babar, 31, told the court yesterday: "He wanted to do multiple bombings at the same time - either simultaneous or one after the other on the same day."

Their discussion, in Pakistan in summer 2003, included talk of potential targets in which they referred to pubs, nightclubs and train stations, it was alleged.

Babar said Khyam had just returned from a ten-day trip to see Abu Munthir, the deputy of Abdul Hadi, whom the court has already heard described as the number three in al-Qaida.

The meeting was in a northern tribal area near Kohat, the court was told.

Babar said: "He (Khyam) had gone to see Abu Munthir - he worked directly with Abdul Hadi."

Khyam had wanted to discuss "what they were planning in the UK".

After the meeting, Khyam returned and said that Munthir wanted to see "everyone involved" in the plot, it was alleged.

American Babar, 31, has been given immunity from prosecution to testify against seven British citizens who deny conspiring with a Canadian to cause explosions in Britain.

Omar Khyam, 24, his brother Shujah Mahmood, 19, Waheed Mahmood, 34, and Jawad Akbar, 22, all from Crawley; Salahuddin Amin, 31, from Luton, Beds; Anthony Garcia, 23, of Ilford, east London; and Nabeel Hussain, 20, of Horley, Surrey, deny the charge.

Khyam, Garcia and Hussain also deny a charge under the Terrorism Act of possessing 600kg (1,300lb) of ammonium nitrate fertiliser for terrorism. Khyam and Shujah Mahmood further deny possessing aluminium powder for terrorism.

Babar said that at the end of 2003 he went to meet Abdul Hadi, who told him that Abu Munthir worked for him.

Baber said: "He did not say but I knew he was talking about al-Qaida."

In January 2004, Babar travelled to the UK, where he attended various meetings with some of the alleged plotters and other associates.

The trial continues.