An IT graduate from Wolverhampton accused of soliciting to murder members of parliament has appeared in court.

Bilal Zaheer Ahmad, aged 23, was arrested earlier this month in connection with a website, which lists MPs who voted for the 2003 Iraq war.

Wearing a white t-shirt, Ahmad spoke only to confirm his name and acknowledge he understood the proceedings when he appeared at the Old Bailey for a brief hearing via video link.

The graduate, of Dunstall Hill, Dunstall, is accused of “soliciting, encouraging, persuading and endeavouring to persuade” others to murder members of the UK parliament between November 2 and 5 this year.

He is also facing three charges of collecting information likely to be useful to a terrorist on or before November 10 this year.

Mr Justice Calvert-Smith set a preliminary trial date of June 7 and a plea and case management hearing is due on April 15.