Accused Terrorist Abu Hamza en Route to US

Radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri, the man authorities said tried to set up a terrorist training camp on American soil, is finally on his way to stand trial in the U.S. after an eight-year delay.

Hamza, along with four other suspected terrorists, will fly to the States in the custody of U.S. Marshals, British officials told ABC News just hours after the defendants lost a last ditch appeal to the British courts. The officials said there had been "dreadful weather" but they still have "every intention to get them airborne tonight."

"There is great relief here that these men who have used every opportunity to delay and frustrate extradition will soon be on their way to face justice in U.S.," one British government source told ABC News.

Radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri, the man authorities said tried to set up a terrorist training camp on American soil, is finally on his way to stand trial in the U.S. after an eight-year delay.

Isn’t it a pitty that the country whose prime minister Willian Gladstone said “Justice delayed is justice denied” could permit an international criminal to avoid justice for 8 years

Isn’t it a pitty that the country whose prime minister Willian Gladstone said “Justice delayed is justice denied” could permit an international criminal to avoid justice for 8 years.

Not exactly, he has been sentenced and in jail in the UK...

From another blog...

On 26 August 2004, Masri (his real name) was arrested by British police under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 which covers the instigation of acts of terrorism. He was “de-arrested” on 31 August 2004, but kept in prison whilst a U.S. extradition case was developed and British authorities drew up further criminal charges of their own. Almost two months later, on 19 October 2004, Masri was charged with 15 offences under the provisions of various British statutes, including encouraging the murder of non-Muslims, and intent to stir up racial hatred.The trial commenced on 5 July 2005, but was adjourned, and not resumed until 9 January 2006. On 7 February 2006, he was found guilty on eleven charges and not guilty on four:

Guilty of six charges of soliciting murder under the Offences against the Person Act 1861; not guilty on three further such charges.
Guilty of three charges related to “using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with the intention of stirring up racial hatred” under the Public Order Act 1986, not guilty on one further such charge.
Guilty of one charge of owning recordings related to “stirring up racial hatred”.
Guilty of one charge of possessing a “terrorist encyclopaedia” under the Terrorism Act 2000, s58. This charge under the Terrorism Act of 2000 related to his possession of an Encyclopedia of Afghan Jihad, an Al Qaeda Handbook and other propaganda materials produced by Masri.

In sentencing, Mr Justice Hughes said Masri had “helped to create an atmosphere in which to kill has become regarded by some as not only a legitimate course but a moral and religious duty in pursuit of perceived justice”. Masri was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.

Having been held in prison since May 2004, Masri would normally have completed his sentence and been freed in 2011. However, British authorities continued to keep him in Belmarsh Prison whilst the US sought to extradite him.Since then his lawyers have attempted to stop his extradition, he is also wanted in Jordan, but extradition to this country was refused, a country who involved in torture and possibly could face a death sentence,,

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