Hate preacher Hamza jailed for inciting murder

RADICAL Islamic cleric Abu Hamza was yesterday jailed for seven years at the Old Bailey after he was convicted of a string of race hate and terror charges.

Sentencing him, Mr Justice Hughes said he 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."

The judge said: "No one can now say what damage your words may have caused."

But he added that his views had caused "real danger to the lives of innocent people in different parts of the world."

Hamza, 47, described by security sources as a key figure in the global Islamic terror movement, was convicted of 11 out of 15 charges by the Old Bailey jury on the fourth day of its deliberations.

What the jurors were not told was that the former imam at the controversial Finsbury Park Mosque in north London is also wanted in the US where he is accused of terror charges.

They were also unaware that when police raided the mosque in January 2003, they found an array of terrorist paraphernalia, including nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protective suits, blank firing weapons, a stun gun and a CS canister.

Detectives suspect the material had been used in terror training camps in Britain. During his month-long trial, the prosecution alleged Hamza was a recruiting sergeant for global terrorism.

In sermons at the Finsbury Park Mosque and in Luton, Blackburn and Whitechapel, east London, "he was preaching terrorism, homicidal violence and hatred".

Hamza, who lost his hands and an eye fighting Russian forces in Afghanistan, gave clear encouragement to kill when he gave his sermons, David Perry, prosecuting, told the jury.

He had "used the most dangerous weapons available a great religion, Islam, his position as a civic leader and the power of words, his own words".

Hamza was convicted of inciting his followers to murder non-Muslims and Jews. He was also convicted of stirring up racial hatred and possessing a terror "manual", the Encyclopaedia Of The Afghani Jihad.

The court had heard from Mr Perry that the US had requested extradition in relation to the kidnap of tourists in the Yemen in December 1998.

The US also wanted him in relation to an allegation that he conspired with others to establish a training camp in Oregon and sent people to America to facilitate this. He is also alleged to have sent others to Afghanistan to undertake training for terrorism.

Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament of Great Britain, said: "Abu Hamza was an embarrassment to the Muslim community, both in what he did and what he said.

"Although time in prison is a very painful experience the Muslim reaction will be that he brought misery on himself."

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Branch, said: "We shall never know how much pain and suffering Hamza and his followers have caused.

"We do know his words have caused anguish and fear among many communities. This was Abu Hamza on trial, not Islam, not the Muslim community."

Hamza's solicitor, Muddassar Arani, said the preacher would be appealing. In a statement outside court, she said: "Abu Hamza considers himself to be a prisoner of faith. He is subjected to slow martyrdom."