Abu Qatada, a suspected leading member of Al-Qaeda now held in London, was a key figure in the group’s British operations, according to an immigration tribunal, it was reported. Qatada “was heavily involved, indeed was at the centre in the United Kingdom of terrorist activities associated with Al-Qaeda,” the tribunal found in January, according to a copy of its full ruling obtained by Britain’s Channel 4 News television. Qatada, 43, held in London’s Belmarsh prison since October 2002 under Britain’s anti-terror legislation, had his appeal to be released from detention turned down by the Special Immigrations Appeals Commission. “He is a truly dangerous individual and these appeals are dismissed,” said the ruling — not made public at the time — according to the same source. Qatada, also known as Omar Mahmoud Abu Omar, is a Jordanian-born Palestinian and fundamentalist Islamic cleric who was granted asylum status in Britain in 1994. Full Story
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