A MAN on trial accused of attempted murder with a slam gun has told a jury he secretly manufactured about 11 of the weapons at a factory in Bradford.

Ummar Yaqoob admits firing the homemade shotgun at the window of a house in Agar Street, Girlington, Bradford, but says he did not intend to kill or injure anyone.

Yaqoob, 30, of Hill Top Mount, Oakwood, Leeds, said he cut the pipes for the weapons and assembled them after his then girlfriend Kiran Hussain ordered the components on the internet.

He sold one slam gun to a friend for £200 but said there was little interest from other potential buyers.

Interested in news from Manningham, Girlington and Frizinghall? Join our new BD8 News Facebook group 

“People wanted something more intimidating, something that looked like a real gun,” he told prosecutor David Gordon at Bradford Crown Court today.

Yaqoob denies attempting to murder Hamza Nazir shortly after 10.30pm on Sunday, March 31.

He also pleads not guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, but he has admitted possession of the gun with intent to cause fear of violence and manufacturing a firearm. His identical twin brother, Khuram Yaqoob, of Daisy Hill Lane, Bradford, and Hussain, 24, of Ophelia Close, Little Horton, Bradford, deny attempting to murder Mr Nazir and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

TOP STORIES: 

Hussain has pleaded guilty to two offences of possession of a slam gun and a charge of manufacturing a firearm. Khuram Yaqoob denies manufacturing a firearm.

Ummar Yaqoob has told the trial that he shot at the house after his sister was robbed of her black BMW by masked men. The jury has heard that Hussain had nine slam guns in her bedroom, including the one used in the shooting.

Mr Gordon said they were “dangerous, horrible weapons.”

He put it to Ummar Yaqoob: “Who else but criminals would want to buy a slam gun?” Yaqoob said ordinary working people expressed interest.

He test fired a slam gun in a Leeds basement in January and a video of the incident was made by his brother.

“It was a stupid hobby. I watched videos online and got carried away,” Yaqoob said.

He admitted ordering parts for a deactivated Mossberg pump action shotgun from America but said thecomponents never arrived.

Yaqoob said he had planned to sell the weapon for £2,500.

“It would be used for killing someone or robbing a bank?” Mr Gordan suggested.

Yaqoob replied that the potential buyer was “just a normal working guy who liked the look of the gun.”

The trial continues.