Finsbury Park Mosque before
holding prayers Friday May 14th, 2004
A radical Muslim cleric arrested in London today has been accused in a US court of involvement in terrorism.
Abu Hamza al-Masri faces charges relating to the hostage incident in Yemen, in which three Britons and a German died in December 1998, and of trying to establish a terrorist training camp in Oregon.
The indictment said Hamza acted as an intermediary with terrorists who took 16 tourists hostage in Yemen and spoke with the terrorists before and after the incident. The four tourists were killed when Yemen rescuers were involved in a shoot-out with the Islamic extremist captors.
"Those who support our terrorist enemies anywhere in the world must know that we will not rest until the threat they pose is eradicated," US Attorney General John Ashcroft said in New York where he announced details of the charges.
Officers detained the suspect in an early morning raid on his west London home, which was later searched by anti-terrorist police. Mr Ashcroft - who timed his press conference to coincide with Hamza's appearance in court in London - said US authorities were seeking Hamza's extradition.
"The United States will use every diplomatic, legal and administrative tool to pursue and prosecute those who facilitate terrorist activity and we will not stop until the war on terror is won," Mr Ashcroft said. He thanked the British authorities for their co-operation.
Mr Raymond Kelly, New York police commissioner, told the same press conference Hamsa was the "real deal", adding: "He is suspected of providing support to trainees in Osama bin Laden's terrorist camps as well as dispatching associates from England to help establish Jihad training sites here in the US. Think of him as a freelance consultant to terrorism groups worldwide."
Abu Hamza - who has one eye and a steel hook in place of his right hand after being wounded fighting in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union in the 1980s - was stripped of his British nationality a year ago on allegations he supported terrorism.
Last month, he won nine more months to appeal against the decision. He denies any formal links to al-Qaeda.
Agencies