Cat Stevens 'shocked' at US entry refusal

Former pop star Cat Stevens arrived back in London today saying he was “totally shocked” to have been denied entry to the United States on national security grounds.

The ex-singer, now known as Yusuf Islam after converting to Islam in the 1970s, told reporters in a media scrum at London’s Heathrow airport: “Half of me wants to smile, half of me wants to growl.

“It’s crazy and everybody knows me from my charitable work and now there has to be explanations, but I’m glad to be home.”

He arrived on United Airlines flight 918 from Washington after being detained by the FBI on Tuesday. He was travelling to the US capital when his flight was diverted to Maine, where he was escorted off the plane, questioned by the FBI and ordered to leave.

He said he will be consulting his lawyers over the situation. Before leaving in a silver people carrier, he added that he will be holding a press conference later.

Islam spoke of the trauma of being separated from his 21-year-old daughter Maymanah, with whom he was travelling and who was allowed into the country after the flight continued to Washington Dulles Airport.

“The whole thing was a terrible ordeal,” he said. "I’m very tired. I was separated from my daughter – I really look forward to seeing her again.”

He said his next step will be to find out what had happened.

Describing the situation as “ridiculous”, he said there was “possibly a glitch” in the system which led to his being thrown out of the US. “We’re in touch with our lawyers,“ he said. “Political representation also is very clear.”

Islam described as “very kind” the intervention of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who protested to the US government about the incident.