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Abu Qatada due to be deported to stand trial in Jordan Abu Qatada deported from UK to stand trial in Jordan
(about 1 hour later)
Radical cleric Abu Qatada has arrived at RAF Northolt ahead of his deportation to Jordan to stand trial on terrorism charges. Radical cleric Abu Qatada has been deported from the UK to Jordan to stand trial on terrorism charges.
He is due to return by military plane to his home country which he has not visited in 20 years. His plane left RAF Northolt at 02:45 BST to take him to his home country, which he has not visited in 20 years.
A convoy of three police vehicles left Belmarsh prison where the 53-year-old cleric was held, just after midnight. Home Secretary Theresa May said it "marks the conclusion of efforts to remove him... and I believe this will be welcomed by the British public."
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.His deportation was approved after the UK and Jordan signed a treaty agreeing that evidence obtained through torture would not be used against him.
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 is being 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. A convoy of three police vehicles left Belmarsh prison in south-east London, where the 53-year-old cleric had been held, at midnight, travelling over Tower Bridge and through the City on its way to the airfield in the west of the capital.
Eleventh hourEleventh 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.
"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.