Reid heckler charged over speech supporting bombers

THE Muslim radical who barracked British Home Secretary John Reid was released on conditional bail yesterday after being charged with a terrorism offence.

Abu Izzadeen appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates Court accused of encouraging terrorism in a public speech, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2006.

The 32-year-old Islamic convert was arrested yesterday in east London over a speech in which he allegedly praised the July 7 bombers.

Izzadeen gave the speech in Birmingham on July 2 last year, before the first anniversary of the London bombings.

District Judge Daphne Wickham released him on bail on the condition that he should not attend or address any organised meeting and that he should surrender his passport.

Izzadeen, of Brierley Road, Leytonstone, east London, appeared in the dock wearing a blue fleece jacket over a white T-shirt.

Also known as Omar Brookes, he hit the headlines in September last year when he heckled Mr Reid as he addressed a 30-strong group of Muslims in Leyton, east London.

Izzadeen’s arrest yesterday was not related to that incident. If found guilty of encouraging terrorism, he faces up to seven years in prison. Izzadeen was released on a surety of £50,000.

Outside court Izzadeen’s lawyer, Tanveer Qureshi, said his client would have to stay in custody overnight because he had been unable to meet all the bail conditions in time.