An angry tirade from the dock has halted the trial of south London two brothers accused over an alleged terror plot during the pandemic.

Muhamed Abu, 32, swore at the prosecutor, John McGuinness QC, as he was dragged from the Old Bailey courtroom on Thursday, insisting he had "nothing against Britannia".

The trial features Sahayb Abu, 27, from Dagenham, allegedly bought an 18-inch sword, body armour and balaclavas online in preparation for a strike last summer.

His sibling Muhamed Abu, of South Norwood, knew of the purchases and what they were for but failed to alert authorities, the prosecution alleges.

On Thursday, Muhamed Abu reacted angrily in the dock at the Old Bailey as prosecutor John McGuinness QC was setting out the case against him.

This Is Local London: Muhammed AbuMuhammed Abu

Mr McGuinness challenged his statement to police that he was the "opposite of an extremist", "anti-violence", loved the Western lifestyle and had "no animosity against the UK".

The lawyer suggested this was at odds with an incident in October 2017 when the two defendants and their brother Ahmed Aweys were found putting up red poppy posters in Ilford, east London.

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The poster read: "Britain uses your tax money to kill Muslims in Muslim lands!

"British terror. Lest we forget.... Don't betray your Ummah (Muslim community)!"

At mention of the posters, Muhamed Abu shouted from the dock: "That was against the Government, not the British people.

"It was against the Government, you prick. The Government has changed since then. I have got nothing against Britannia."

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Dock officers stepped in to restrain Muhamed Abu when he got to his feet and appeared agitated.

His brother Sahayb Abu remained seated and said: "Your honour, he's got autism. Relax, Muhamed."

Judge Mark Dennis QC called for a break and sent the jury away as Muhamed Abu was physically removed from the dock.

Mr McGuinness had begun his closing speech after Muhamed Abu declined to follow his sibling into the witness box to give evidence in his defence.

This Is Local London: Wail Aweys and Suleyman Aweys, believed to have been killed in SyriaWail Aweys and Suleyman Aweys, believed to have been killed in Syria

In his evidence, Sahayb Abu told jurors of his ambition to become a famous rapper under the name Masked Menace and claimed his online purchases had nothing to do with extremism.

But Mr McGuinness suggested the younger defendant's numerous searches for the so-called Islamic State group, and extremist posts showed he lied to the jury about hating the terror group.

He also highlighted the alleged "pro-Isis" message of a rap Sahayb Abu sent to his brother referring to "shanking" and Fusilier Lee Rigby "heads rolling".

Sahayb Abu, from Dagenham, Essex, denies preparing an act of terrorism and Muhamed Abu, from Norwood, south London, denies failing to disclose information to authorities.