Terror suspect due in court over extradition

An Algerian pilot suspected of training some of the September 11 hijackers is due in court for an extradition hearing.

Lotfi Raissi, 27, is to appear at Belmarsh magistrates court in south-east London in a case brought by the US.

Two other terrorist suspects, Amar Makhlulif, 36, and Mustapha Labsi, 31, are also to appear for extradition hearings.

While Makhlulif is wanted by the US Labsi is wanted by France.

Raissi was refused bail at his last appearance at Belmarsh three weeks ago.

He was living at Colnbrook, near Heathrow airport when he was detained on September 21 by Metropolitan Police under the Terrorism Act. It's alleged he was a "lead instructor" for four of the pilots responsible for the hijackings.

The specific allegations against him are that he made a false statement on a US Federal Aviation Authority application - he is accused of failing to disclose that he had had surgery, that he had been to a health professional in the past three years, and another matter.

Makhlulif, who is also known by the surname Doha, was arrested in July this year and is accused in the US of involvement in an alleged plot to blow up Los Angeles airport.

US prosecutors allege he helped terrorists travel to bin Laden's training camps in Afghanistan and sent others to Canada to prepare for the aborted Millennium Eve airport attack.

Labsi is being sought by the French authorities in connection with a terrorist plot in Lille.