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Abu Qatada due to be deported to stand trial in Jordan | Abu Qatada due to be deported to stand trial in Jordan |
(35 minutes later) | |
Radical cleric Abu Qatada is expected to be deported to Jordan overnight to stand trial on terrorism charges. | Radical cleric Abu Qatada is expected to be deported to Jordan overnight to stand trial on terrorism charges. |
He is due to board a military plane in the UK, which will take him back to his home country in the early hours. | He is due to board a military plane in the UK, which will take him back to his home country in the early hours. |
A convoy of police vehicles has entered Belmarsh Prison in south-east London where the 53-year-old cleric has been held. | |
The legal battle to deport Abu Qatada has lasted almost 10 years and has cost the UK more than £1.7m ($2.5m). | The legal battle to deport Abu Qatada has lasted almost 10 years and has cost the UK more than £1.7m ($2.5m). |
His deportation was approved after the UK and Jordan signed a treaty agreeing that evidence obtained through torture would not be used against him. | |
He is expected to be driven out of Belmarsh and taken to a waiting plane at RAF Northolt, in west London. | |
The BBC understands that he will be accompanied on the flight by six people from Jordan, comprising three security officials, a psychologist, a medical examiner and his Jordanian lawyer. | The BBC understands that he will be accompanied on the flight by six people from Jordan, comprising three security officials, a psychologist, a medical examiner and his Jordanian lawyer. |
He has not returned to Jordan since he fled to the UK 20 years ago. | He has not returned to Jordan since he fled to the UK 20 years ago. |
Eleventh hour | Eleventh hour |
The Palestinian-Jordanian, whose real name is Omar Othman, lost his appeal against deportation at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) in February 2007. | The Palestinian-Jordanian, whose real name is Omar Othman, lost his appeal against deportation at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) in February 2007. |
But he then appealed to higher courts on the grounds that evidence extracted through torture would be used against him in Jordan, where he faces a retrial for plotting bomb attacks. | But he then appealed to higher courts on the grounds that evidence extracted through torture would be used against him in Jordan, where he faces a retrial for plotting bomb attacks. |
That legal battle continued until May this year, when the cleric accepted that his right to a fair trial there was protected by the new treaty between Jordan and the UK. | That legal battle continued until May this year, when the cleric accepted that his right to a fair trial there was protected by the new treaty between Jordan and the UK. |
He agreed to drop his legal challenge, paving the way for his deportation. | He agreed to drop his legal challenge, paving the way for his deportation. |
BBC news correspondent Jon Brain said: "He still has the option to seek a judicial review. Even at this 11th hour, he could announce that he's going to make another appeal and extend this process still further. | BBC news correspondent Jon Brain said: "He still has the option to seek a judicial review. Even at this 11th hour, he could announce that he's going to make another appeal and extend this process still further. |
"But it does appear that he's accepted the latest developments, and should be on his way to Jordan in the early hours of the morning." | "But it does appear that he's accepted the latest developments, and should be on his way to Jordan in the early hours of the morning." |
The final administrative procedures needed to ratify the treaty - which included an exchange of diplomatic letters between the UK and Jordan and the publication of the treaty in the Jordanian government's Official Gazette - have now been completed. | The final administrative procedures needed to ratify the treaty - which included an exchange of diplomatic letters between the UK and Jordan and the publication of the treaty in the Jordanian government's Official Gazette - have now been completed. |
Abu Qatada has been held at Belmarsh after breaching a bail condition in March which restricted his use of mobile phones and other communication devices. | Abu Qatada has been held at Belmarsh after breaching a bail condition in March which restricted his use of mobile phones and other communication devices. |