Radical Preacher is an Al-qaida Hero, Court Told

The radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza is an "al-Qaida hero" comparable to Osama bin Laden, a lawyer acting for the US in its extradition bid claimed yesterday.

James Lewis QC told Belmarsh magistrates that Mr Hamza had sent money to a "top-level associate" of the terrorist network while under investigation by British police.

The 46-year-old preacher was applying for bail pending a full hearing of the American case for extraditing him on terrorism charges.

But Mr Lewis said Mr Hamza had the resources and an "irresistible incentive" to flee.

Alternatively, he might try to interfere with witnesses or commit offences while on bail.

Mr Lewis said that while being investigated by police in 1999 Mr Hamza had sent money to Abu Khabab, a "well-known al-Qaida top-level associate" who ran a jihad training camp in Afghanistan which specialised in explosives and poison training.

"From an al-Qaida point of view he is a hero in the same way as Bin Laden is portrayed," he said.

But Paul Hynes, Mr Hamza's counsel, told the court that his client had battled to retain British citizenship and remain in the UK.

"If ever there was a man who could not and would not contemplate the shame and ignominy of fleeing like a thief in the night in the face of the might of the United States, and in the process giving up all he believes to be right, that man is before you today," he said.

He "could not cross his own living room without bringing himself to the attention of the authorities", not least because he lost an eye and both hands in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan.

Mr Hynes said several of the alleged offences had been investigated by British police, and that if sufficient evidence existed Mr Hamza could be tried in British courts.

The preacher is alleged to have aided a hostage-taking incident in Yemen in 1998 in which four captives - including three Britons - died.

He also stands accused of conspiring to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon in the US; and of sending a follower to an al-Qaida camp in Afghanistan.

Wearing a red T-shirt and khaki trousers, Mr Hamza spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood the US wanted to extradite him.

District judge Timothy Workman refused the bail application, saying he was satisfied there was a risk that the cleric would fail to attend court, could interfere with witnesses or might commit further offences.

In a statement released through his solicitor after the hearing, Mr Hamza said the proceedings were politically motivated and that he could not receive a fair trial in the US.

The case is the first to test a new non-reciprocal extradition treaty which allows the US to extradite suspects without providing evidence against them. Mr Hamza will have the opportunity to appeal if the extradition request is successful.

But Mr Hamza could face the death penalty in the US and British nationals cannot be extradited to face execution abroad.

He will appear by videolink before Bow Street magistrates on July 1, and a full extradition hearing is scheduled for July 23.