Brits guard al Qaida bigwig

Somewhere in northern England

British intelligence is sheltering the spiritual leader of al Qaida’s European networks, Time magazine reported this week. The Jordanian-born Sheikh Omah Abu Omar, better known as Abu Qatada, has been officially “missing” since the British government took away his passport in December. Unnamed European officials told Time that Abu Qatada struck a secret deal with British intelligence to keep him and his family in a safe house. He cannot contact his extremist followers, but the British cannot deport him to Jordan, where he is wanted on terror charges. Abu Qatada is believed to have the support of the many Islamic radicals in Britain, where he preached jihad against the West. The British may fear domestic attacks if they extradite him.

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