Abu Hamza Al Masri Can Be Sent To US
Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al Masri can be extradited to the United States to face terrorism charges.
The 49-year-old was jailed in the UK for seven years, in February 2006, for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred.
He is wanted by US authorities on 11 charges.
Hamza is accused of attempting to set up a terrorist training camp in Bly, Oregon, from 1999 to early 2000, and also providing support to al Qaeda and the Taliban.
The cleric, who applauded the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, also faces charges that he was involved in plotting the taking of 16 Western hostages in Yemen in 1998.
Four of the hostages, three Britons and an Australian, were killed when Yemeni troops stormed the militants' hideout.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to 100 years in prison.
London's City of Westminster Magistrates Court approved the extradition but the decision has to be ratified by the Home Secretary.
Senior District Judge Timothy Workman said: "The defendant is currently serving a sentence of imprisonment in the United Kingdom.
"But subject to any representations from counsel I propose to send the matter to the Secretary of State for his decision on whether the defendant should be extradited to America."
Alun Jones QC, defending, immediately announced that he would be making submissions to the Home Office and he would also be writing to the Attorney General urging that the case be prosecuted in the UK.