British authorities yesterday detained 10 foreigners considered a threat to national security, including radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada, a government official said.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, confirmed that the Palestinian cleric described by British officials as Osama bin Laden's "spiritual ambassador in Europe," was in custody. His lawyer Gareth Peirce could not be reached for comment.
The Home Office refused to identify the foreigners.
The detentions came only days after British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced measures to deport radical Islamic extremists following last month's terrorist attacks on London's transit system. Human-rights activists have protested against measures that would allow Britain to deport suspects to countries where they could face torture.
Britain has been negotiating extradition agreements with several countries -- including Jordan, Algeria and Egypt -- to ensure that suspects would not be tortured. An agreement was signed on Wednesday with Jordan, where Abu Qatada was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment after being convicted of involvement in a series of explosions and terror plots.
"We believe now that we can get the assurances that these people will not be tortured or mistreated and on that basis we will be able to proceed with the deportations," Home Office minister Hazel Blears told the BBC.
Meanwhile, two people appeared in court yesterday charged in connection with the failed July 21 bomb attacks.
Ismael Abdurahman, 23, from southeast London, faces charges of withholding information from police about the whereabouts of Hamdi Issac, who is suspected of trying to blow up a subway train on July 21.
Issac, also known as Osman Hussain, later was detained in Rome and is being held there on international terrorism charges.
Abdurahman was also charged with failing to disclose information about Ibrahim Muktar Said, accused of trying to blow up a bus on July 21; assisting Issac in evading arrest; failing to disclose information about Yasin Hassan Omar, who allegedly tried to bomb a subway train near Warren Street Station, and failing to disclose information about Ramzi Mohamed, suspected of attempting to blow up a train near Oval Station.
Siraj Yassin Abdullah Ali, 30, also accused of failing to disclose information about Said and helping him evade arrest, was ordered held in custody until Nov. 17.
Ali and Abdurahman appeared at the Bow Street court via video-link from Belmarsh Prison in south London.
Issac's wife and sister-in-law also were due in court yesterday, charged with failing to disclose information about terrorism suspects. Six other people were expected in court yesterday over the July 21 attacks.
The three main suspects in the failed July 21 bombings appeared in court earlier this week on charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, possessing or making explosives and conspiracy to use explosives on July 21.
So far, British police have not charged anyone in connection with the July 7 bombings, which killed 56 people, including the four attackers.
Also at the Bow Street court, a terror suspect wanted by the US authorities appeared for a preliminary extradition hearing.
Haroon Rashid Aswat, 30, is accused by the US of conspiring to set up a camp in Bly, Oregon, in 1999 and 2000 to provide training in weapons, hand-to-hand combat and martial arts for militants aiming to fight in Afghanistan.
Judge Timothy Workman ordered Aswat to remain in custody until Sept. 8.
Aswat was deported from Zambia last weekend and arrested by British police under the US warrant.
He has said he would contest the extradition, and he denies the US allegations.
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