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Jordanian terror suspect sent back to jail

A Jordanian man whom Britain considers an international terrorist was ordered back to jail on Tuesday after a court ruled he had breached bail.

  • Reuters
  • Published: 23:25 December 2, 2008
  • Gulf News

London: A Jordanian man whom Britain considers an international terrorist was ordered back to jail on Tuesday after a court ruled he had breached bail.

Jordanian cleric Omar Othman, better known as Abu Qatada and once described by a Spanish judge as Osama Bin Laden's top operative in Europe, had been accused of plotting to flee Britain. "I'm pleased that the court has agreed that Abu Qatada should have his bail revoked," said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

"He poses a significant threat to our national security and I am pleased that he will be detained pending his deportation, which I am working hard to secure."

Abu Qatada was arrested by British authorities in 2002 under now defunct laws which allowed foreigners suspected of terrorism to be held without charge.

He was later freed on bail but detained again in 2005 as part of a group of Arab men the government wanted to deport, while acknowledging it did not have enough evidence for a trial. Britain has been struggling for years to resolve the cases, with lawyers and human rights groups arguing the men cannot be sent home because they would risk torture.

In April, Abu Qatada defeated an attempt to deport him after Appeal Court judges ruled he would not face a fair trial in Jordan.

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