Naa'imur Rahman is on trial for plotting to kill Theresa May in a knife and bomb attack on Downing Street

An ISIS fanatic planned to stab Theresa May after blowing up the gates of Downing Street, a court heard today.

Naa'imur Rahman, 20, plotted to detonate explosives at the security gates near Number 10 in a 'full frontal suicide mission' on 28 November last year, it is alleged.

Rahman modified his coat and backpack with IEDs and was arrested by anti-terror police in Kensington just days before he intended to carry out the attack, jurors heard.

The Bangladeshi-British suspect appeared at the Old Bailey today alongside bearded 22-year-old Mohammad Imran for the first day of their trial.

Imran planned to join the Islamic State in Libya after saving up £3,600 and obtaining a fake passport to leave the UK, it is alleged.

He is also accused of possessing a popular terrorist manual called 'How to Survive in the West: A Mujhajid's Guide', published in 2015.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said: 'The case against them is that their shared inspiration, which comes from a warped ideology of the group that calls itself Islamic State, led them well beyond contemplation and into making plans and taking practical steps to engage in violent acts of terrorism.'

Theresa May was the target of the terrorist, who wanted to stab the Prime Minister in a suicide mission, the Old Bailey heard

Both Rahman and Imran thought about going to a conflict zone such as Syria to 'lend support to the violence,' said Mr Heywood.

From October 2015 Rahman was known to the Channel programme, intended for people who may be exposed to radicalisation, but had 'withdrawn from any engagement with that programme and refused any further contact or assistance' by the time of the alleged terror plot, the court heard.

'His settled conclusion was that lethal violence here, directed at the very heart of the United Kingdom government, was the only effective way to pursue his intentions,' said Mr Heywood.

'Before his arrest prevented it he was, he believed, just days away from his objective, which was no less than a suicide attack, by blade and explosion, on Downing Street and, if he could possibly achieve it, upon the Prime Minister herself - Theresa May.'

Rahman is on trial alongside his friend, Mohammad Imran, who was is also accused of preparing terrorist acts

The court heard his plan was uncovered by an MI5 operative, who posed as a senior ISIS official in Syria, the Old Bailey heard.

The court heard Rahman in Telegram chat asked him: 'Can you put me in a sleeper cell ASAP?'

When he is asked for more information, he allegedly said: 'I want to do a suicide bomb on Parliament. I want to attempt to kill Theresa May.'

Jurors heard that the next day he said: 'My objective is to take out my target. Nothing less than the death of the leaders of Parliament.'

The court heard Rahman went on to praise the Manchester arena bomber, saying he 'did well'.

He allegedly said he thought about wearing 'a vest', driving past Parliament and 'pushing the button' to 'clear the entire block'.

Jurors heard he said: 'Everyone inside, including the Prime Minister would be dead.'

Rahman, of , Finchley, north London, denies preparing to commit terrorist acts, and one count of intending to assist Mohammed Imran with terrorist acts.

Imran, of Birmingham, denies one count of preparing to commit acts of terrorism and one count of possession of a document likely to be useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism.

The trial continues.