Did Man in the Hat target MAN UNITED? Terror suspect took dozens of photos of Old Trafford
THE 'Man in the Hat' who stands accused of plotting terror attacks in Brussels and Paris had 30 photographs of the Old Trafford football ground stored on his phone.
Mohamed Abrini had taken dozens of photos of Old Trafford football ground
A court has heard that Mohamed Abrini visited Britain for a week, going to casinos in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
Kingston Crown court heard Abrini flew to the UK to pick up £3,000 from men in Birmingham to fund terror attacks - including British benefit payments.
During his stay, Abrini also took a photo of a roulette machine at the Grosvenor Casino in Hill Street in Birmingham, which he returned to after spending time in Manchester.
He flew from Birmingham International Airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on July 16.
DS Ryan Chambers of West Midlands Police's Counter Terrorism Unit said Abrini sent a text message to a Belgian number minutes before his plane took off.
He was also in contact with his brother-in-law, Monsef Et-Takny, during his time in the UK.
Brussels reacts to Belgium arrest of attack suspect Mohamed Abrini
His mobile phone was seized by Belgian police on July 27, when photographs of Small Heath Park and the Bull Ring shopping centre were recovered from the phone.
Abrini was arrested this April in connection with the Brussels attacks in March, which killed 32 people.
The attacks left many dead
Abrini is charged in connection with the Brussels terror attacks
Abrini is one of the world's highest profile terror suspects
He is also a suspect in the November Paris attacks, which left 130 people dead.
The trial continues.