Omar Bakri arrested in Beirut

(Source: The Times)

Bakri (...) planned to return to his home in North London, describing the visit - which came 24 hours after an announcement by Tony Blair of proposals to deport radical clerics - as a 'holiday' of between four and six weeks.

However the Government is investigating whether it has the power to prevent his return and John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday told reporters that he hoped Mr Bakri Mohammed's holiday would be a "long one."

The nature of the police questioning is unclear. It is not believed to be related to an ongoing investigation by British authorities, which could lead to his prosecution for treason and permanent exclusion from the UK. He can be held for up to 72 hours without charge.

Last night Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said that he would refuse a request that had been received from the cleric to return to Britain for a heart operation on the NHS.

The cleric claimed to have an appointment at a London hospital for an operation to widen an artery which would cost up to £8,000 if he had to have private treatment. He said: "I have every right to come back. Britain is my home. My family are there and I have done nothing wrong."

J.Doe sarcastically says: Yeah, Britain is my home, I have the right to blow it up.

Mr Bakri Mohammed, who has collected up to £300,000 in various benefits during his 19 years in Britain, had been given leave to remain indefinitely after claiming that his life would be in danger if he returned to the Middle East.

Speaking about British terrorists, today ten islamist preachers were arrested for being deported.

Related:

• Bakri left UK


• Inchiesta del Times su Omar Bakri e la sua setta islamista


• Undercover journalist records words of Islamist preachers in the aftershock of London bombings


• Una cosa da fare contro il terrorismo: deportazione