Hamza’s son had job on London tube network

LONDON Underground was accused of a security blunder yesterday after it emerged the convicted terrorist son of jailed Islamic cleric Abu Hamza managed to get a job on the network.

But London mayor Ken Livingstone said he was happy for Hamza’s son to work on London Underground.

Mohammed Kamel Mostafa, 25, who was jailed for three years in Yemen in 1999 for allegedly plotting a bombing campaign, worked for a subcontractor of the network’s maintenance company Tube Lines.

Checks were carried out before he took up the post and it is thought he met the employment requirements as he had no criminal convictions in Britain. He has since left the job.

The Sun newspaper claimed Mostafa, who was convicted in Yemen of plotting to sabotage economic and tourist sites, including British and US targets, was sacked when fellow Tube staff discovered his identity.

A Tube Lines spokesman refused to comment on the reasons for his departure.

Andrew Dismore, Labour MP for Hendon, criticised the employment of Hamza’s son and said potential employees on the Underground network should be barred if they had any terrorism-related convictions anywhere in the world.

“The key point here is that terrorism is an international crime,” he said.

Mayor Mr Livingstone said yesterday: “The son of Abu Hamza has been working for a contractor of London Underground.

“No one can be blamed for what their parents do. All we ask is to respect the laws of Britain and do not hurt anyone.

“Has he broken any law here in Britain? The answer is no and we are happy to have him working for us.”