A court in Belfast has heard that the loyalist Michael Stone planned to slit the throats of Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness inside the Northern Ireland Assembly.
He faced a total of 14 charges, including attempting to murder Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness, when his trial began this morning.
The loyalist was wrestled to the ground by two security guards as he came through revolving doors at the main entrance of Parliament Buildings at Stormont in November 2006.
Stone is also charged with possessing home-made explosives and a real or imitation gun with intent.
He is further charged with carrying a garrotte, three knives and an axe and assaulting two security staff members.
Stone, 53, has denied any intention to harm anyone at Stormont and has claimed his attack was performance art.
But at Belfast Crown Court prosecution counsel said that after being arrested by police, Stone told them his intention was to walk into the debating chamber and look for where Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness were sitting.
The lawyer claimed Stone said he planned to use close-quarter tactics to stab Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness and to cut their throats.
The trial is expected to last up to five weeks.
