Abu Hamza, the notorious hook-handed radical cleric, arrived in the United States early on Saturday to face terror charges after he was extradited from Britain along with four other suspects.
He was expected to face a judge in New York within 24 hours after civilian US
jets flew him to America hours after he lost his long legal battle to stay
in Britain.He arrived at Westchester County Airport, New York State, soon after 2am local
time.Hamza, 54, a supporter of al Qaeda and former preacher at Finsbury Park mosque
in North London, is wanted in the US
on terrorist charges. They include conspiring with Seattle men to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon and helping abduct 16 hostages, two of them American tourists, in Yemen in 1998. He has been in a British jail since 2004 on separate charges of inciting racial hatred and encouraging followers to kill non-Muslims.
on terrorist charges. They include conspiring with Seattle men to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon and helping abduct 16 hostages, two of them American tourists, in Yemen in 1998. He has been in a British jail since 2004 on separate charges of inciting racial hatred and encouraging followers to kill non-Muslims.
The US Attorney's office in Connecticut confirmed that Babar Ahmad, 38, and
Syed Talha Ahsan, 33, were scheduled to appear in US District Court in New
Haven early on Saturday. The pair, both British citizens and from Tooting,
South London, face charges in Connecticut relating to websites that
allegedly sought to raise money, recruit fighters and seek equipment for
terrorists in Afghanistan and Chechnya.
"I am pleased the decision of the court meant that these men, who used every available opportunity to frustrate and delay the extradition process over many years, could finally be removed," Theresa May, the Home Secretary, said."This government has co-operated fully with the courts and pressed at every stage to ensure this happened."We have worked tirelessly, alongside the US authorities, the police and the prison service, to put plans in place so that these men could be handed over within hours of the court's decision. It is right that these men, who are all accused of very serious offences, will finally face justice."
The men had made last-ditch challenges against removal from the UK which were rejected by two High Court judges in London on Friday.
The five terror suspects were transported from HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk in a police convoy which arrived at the base at about 10pm.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police's extradition unit handed the men over to US officials before they were taken aboard two planes which left British soil just before midnight, Scotland Yard said.
Culled:Telegraph
Edited:LII
"I am pleased the decision of the court meant that these men, who used every available opportunity to frustrate and delay the extradition process over many years, could finally be removed," Theresa May, the Home Secretary, said."This government has co-operated fully with the courts and pressed at every stage to ensure this happened."We have worked tirelessly, alongside the US authorities, the police and the prison service, to put plans in place so that these men could be handed over within hours of the court's decision. It is right that these men, who are all accused of very serious offences, will finally face justice."
The men had made last-ditch challenges against removal from the UK which were rejected by two High Court judges in London on Friday.
The five terror suspects were transported from HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk in a police convoy which arrived at the base at about 10pm.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police's extradition unit handed the men over to US officials before they were taken aboard two planes which left British soil just before midnight, Scotland Yard said.
Culled:Telegraph
Edited:LII
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