25/09/2012

BBC Reveal Queen Petitioned Home Secretary Over Abu Hamza

It has been revealed that the Queen lobbied the then home secretary to secure the arrest of Abu Hamza al-Masri, the radical Islamist cleric who faces imminent extradition to the US.

The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said the monarch personally told him she was aghast that Abu Hamza could not be arrested during the period when he regularly aired vehemently anti-British views as imam of Finsbury Park mosque in north London.

During an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme about the wider issue of the 54-year-old's newly approved extradition to the US, Gardner said of Abu Hamza's former activities that there was a sense MI5 had been too slow to realise how dangerous he was in radicalising other people.

The BBC has since apologised for revealing the details of what was a private conversation.

On Monday, Abu Hamza lost his latest appeal against extradition to the US.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled the extradition could go ahead. The Home Office hopes this can be achieved within three weeks.

(H)

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08 February 2008
Abu Hamza Extradition Approved
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has approved the extradition of radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri to the US to face terror charges. The 49-year-old Egyptian-born preacher, who is currently serving a seven-year sentence for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred in the UK, is wanted on several charges in the US.
15 November 2007
Extradition To US Possible For Abu Hamza
Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri could be extradited to the US in order to face terrorism charges. The City of Westminster Magistrates Court approved the extradition of the 49-year-old from west London, but the decision has to be ratified by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
06 December 2007
'Lyrical Terrorist' Escapes Custodial Sentence
A former Heathrow Airport worker who dubbed herself the 'Lyrical Terrorist' has been given a nine month suspended jail sentence at the Old Bailey. Samina Malik, 23, was the first woman to be convicted under new terrorism legislation.
16 April 2013
ECHR Rule Against Extradition Of Terrorism Suspect
The extradition of a terrorism suspect, who allegedly tried to establish a training camp in Oregon with the radical cleric Abu Hamza, should not proceed due to his mental health issues, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.
20 August 2004
Abu Hamza remanded in custody
The radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri, who is fighting extradition to the US, has been remanded in custody after appearing before Bow Street Magistrates Court today. Abu Hamza, who faces a total of 11 terrorism-related charges, appeared by videolink from Belmarsh prison to confirm his name and date of birth.