Terror suspects extradited to U.S. after U.K. ruling

Radical Islamist cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri is seen in London with a masked bodyguard in this April 30, 2004 file photo / AP Photo/Max Nash

Updated 9:14 PM ET

LONDON Radical preacher Abu Hamza al-Masri and four other terror suspects who fought for years to avoid facing charges in the United States lost their grounds for appeal and were flown to the U.S. from Britain late Friday, officials said.

The U.S. Embassy said it was pleased with the ruling earlier Friday by Britain's High Court, and Scotland Yard said the five departed from an air force base in eastern England just before midnight on two jets bound for the U.S.

Judges John Thomas and Duncan Ouseley rejected last-ditch applications by al-Masri, Khaled al-Fawwaz, Babar Ahmad, Adel Abdul Bary and Syed Talha Ahsan, who had been battling extradition for between eight and 14 years.

Thomas said there were no grounds for any further delay, noting that it was "in the interest of justice that those accused of very serious crimes, as each of these claimants is in these proceedings, are tried as quickly as possible as is consistent with the interests of justice."

"It follows that their extradition to the United States of America may proceed immediately," the judge said.

• U.K. court issues injunction in radical cleric case
• Abu Hamza can be extradited to U.S., European court rules
• EU approves U.K. extradition of 5 terror suspects to U.S.

The five have sought to avoid extradition by raising concerns about human rights and the conditions they would face in a U.S. prison. Both British and European courts have ruled that they can be sent to the U.S. to face charges, but they sought last-minute injunctions from the High Court.

The suspects face a variety of charges stretching back several years.

The best known of the defendants is al-Masri, an Egyptian-born former nightclub bouncer who turned London's Finsbury Park Mosque into a training ground for radical Islamists during the 1990s. The mosque was once attended by Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui and "shoe bomber" Richard Reid.

Al-Masri is wanted in the U.S. on charges that include conspiring to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon and helping abduct 16 hostages, two of them American tourists, in Yemen in 1998.

Ahmad and Ahsan faces charges in Connecticut relating to websites that allegedly sought to raise cash, recruit fighters and seek equipment for terrorists in Afghanistan and Chechnya.

Bary and al-Fawwaz were indicted with others, including Osama bin Laden, for their alleged roles in the bombings of two U.S. embassies in east Africa in 1998. Al-Fawwaz faces more than 269 counts of murder.

Al-Masri has been in a British jail since 2004 on separate charges of inciting racial hatred and encouraging followers to kill non-Muslims.

Lawyers for the 54-year-old preacher, who has one eye and hooks in place of hands he claims to have lost fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, argued in court that his deteriorating physical and mental health meant it would be "oppressive" to send him to a U.S. prison. They said he suffers from depression, chronic sleep deprivation, diabetes and other ailments.

The judges said his conditions could be treated in the U.S., and concluded that "there is nothing to suggest that extradition in this case would be unjust or oppressive."

Before Friday's ruling, a small group of Islamist protesters gathered outside the court to denounce the planned extraditions. A few scuffled briefly with police and one seized a placard reading "Sling His Hook" from a demonstrator expressing the opposite view.

While al-Masri has been portrayed in the British media as one of the most dangerous men in the country, the case of Babar Ahmad has raised concerns among legal experts and human rights advocates.

Ahmad, a London computer expert, is accused in the U.S. of running terrorist-funding websites. He and Ahsan both face charges including using a website to provide support to terrorists and conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim or injure persons or damage property in a foreign country.

Ahmad and Ahsan could be in court in Connecticut, where an Internet service provider was allegedly used to host one of the websites, on Saturday if they are extradited as planned from Britain.

A hearing was scheduled for Ahmad and Ahsan in U.S. District Court in New Haven on Saturday morning, U.S. Marshal Joseph Faughnan said Friday.

Some lawyers and lawmakers have expressed concerns about the case, because Britain agreed to extradite him even though his alleged crimes were committed in Britain and British courts declined to prosecute him for lack of evidence.

In prison since 2004, Ahmad has been held without charge for the longest period of any British citizen detained since the Sept. 11 attacks.

In a statement read on his behalf outside court, Ahmad said his case had exposed flaws in U.S.-U.K. extradition arrangements. "I leave with my head held high, having won the moral victory," he said.

His father, Ashfaq Ahmad, said he would continue to fight for his son.

"It's not just one Babar Ahmad. Tomorrow there will be another Babar Ahmad and another one," he said.

[velvet2112]

Hamaz has cost the British tax payer £2.7m in legal fees, which immigration idiot let him in in the first place. If they hate the West so much why do they come here to claim benefits, I do not understand why we put up with this total non sense in the West have Law that deal with these people in 24hrs

[lifeduringwartime]

Give him a speedy public trial and a speedy public hanging. Nice picture of the body guard with half his vision blocked.

[Irishproddie]

He wont be executed. The extradition was on the grounds that as a UK citizen he couldnt face the death penalty. He will hopefully be locked up for some time.....ever. We are judged by how we treat both victims and criminals. Theres no appetite for the re introduction of the death penalty in the UK. Usual posturing from the right wing tory press and MPs but the only required rebuff to these folk is " The Birmingham 6 "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Six

[signseeker1717]

Then you'd be playing into their hands, and giving him the "martyr's death" he seeks. Lifelong confinement and isolation OUT of the public eye is much more of a punishment to these types.

[Irishproddie]

Were glad to see the back of Captain Hook bin laden Hamza. Finsbury Park Mosque in North London is one the most prominent buildings in the area. It was opened by Prince Charles and the Iman and the congregation were well integrated into the local commuinity. Hooky and his followers took over and turned it in to a hotbed of anti semitic and anti British hatred. As you can imagine the perfectly decent muslim families of North London were horrified and left in droves. Finally the mosque council managed to get him out by legal means . He just carried on out in the streets. He hates the west and christians and jews ( meanwhile he and his family claimed every benefit they could from the British taxpayer ). He was captured on film describing the UK as a toilet. If he is guilty then he has to go down for a very very long time. This is one dangerous man and we in the UK are glad he's gone.

[inbethlehem]

And today's poll question is:

The first prison inmate to brutally rape al-Masri will be a member of which gang affiliate?

a) Aryan Brotherhood
b) Nazi Lowriders
c) La Eme (Mexican Mafia)
d) KKK

[bradkt1]

Being sent to the United States is what these terrorist maggots fear most of all.

[aintfakin]

ah yes
more evidence Obama is a muslim or soft on terror
suckonaterd you right wing boiler room ahoes

[Sommersan]

Welcome to America Captain Hook, I hope you like pork, because this is all you gonna get in prison MF.

[Henry-Bowman]

Water boarding while unpleasant is hardly torture ?????????????????

You need to get a brain Jack.

Better yet.. Have someone give you a water boarding session.

[HM8432]

I've been water boarded during military training, and Jack is right, it's very unpleasant, but hardly torture by the standards of the guy you're doing it to (the radical Muslims like using power tools, blow torches, large knives, etc.). However, the worst thing that can happen to al-Masri and Ahmad (in their Islamofascist minds) is not to be tortured or executed, but to be put in a barren prison cell for the rest of their lives. That way, they don't die as heroic 'martyrs of Islam', but with an anonymous and inglorious whimper instead.

[arbzzz]

just shoot him - don't waste money on a trial

[Sommersan]

Why shoot him my friend, and waste a good bullet? hand him to the families of the twin towers victims and let them play with him.