Radical cleric wont go to U.S.

last updated 8 January 2015

London

The extradition to the U.S. of terror suspect Abu Hamza al-Masri was delayed this week after Britain brought its own charges against him. Al-Masri was indicted on 16 charges, including 10 counts of soliciting or encouraging the murder of non-Muslims. The imam, who lost a hand and an eye fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, was the head preacher at London’s notorious Finsbury Park mosque, where shoe bomber Richard Reid and alleged 9/11 plotter Zacarias Moussaoui worshiped. Al-Masri was arrested in May after U.S. authorities charged him with trying to establish a terrorist training camp in Oregon and funding terrorism training in Afghanistan. U.S. officials said they would now wait to seek his extradition until after his British trial.