Terror suspects fight extradition

Radical cleric Abu Hamza and other terror suspects are to attempt to persuade the High Court to halt their extradition from the UK to the US.

Two judges in London will consider challenges by Babar Ahmad, Khaled Al-Fawwaz and Adel Abdul Bary alongside that of Hamza, it has been confirmed by the Judicial Office.

The men - who will not be attending the proceedings - are seeking injunctions from the court preventing their removal.

It is understood that an application by a fifth suspect, Seyla Talha Ahsan, will also be heard by Sir John Thomas, President of the Queen's Bench Division, and Mr Justice Ouseley.

The latest legal action comes after Europe's human rights judges recently rejected a bid for an appeal by Hamza and the other four, paving the way for their extradition.

Hamza, who was jailed for seven years for soliciting to murder and inciting racial hatred, has been fighting extradition since 2004.

Computer expert Ahmad has been held in a UK prison without trial for eight years after being accused of raising funds for terrorism.

Earlier, the Director of Public Prosecutions refused to consent to the private prosecution of Ahmad.

Keir Starmer QC said the documents provided by British businessman Karl Watkin were "very short, lack any meaningful detail and do not provide any real support for a prosecution".

Mr Watkin, a campaigner against the UK's extradition arrangements with the United States, made the attempt to bring legal proceedings in the UK to avoid "outsourcing the country's criminal justice system" to the US.