A jailed extremist Muslim cleric named by Britain's government as a key influence on one of four men who carried out the London transport network bombings is to be deported to Jamaica, officials said on Sunday.
Abdullah el-Faisal, a Jamaican-born convert to Islam, has been informed he will be expelled from Britain on completion of his current jail term, the Home Office said.
The cleric was sentenced to nine years jail in 2003 on charges of incitement to murder and stirring racial hatred after he urged his followers to kill Hindus, Jews and Americans.
Prosecutors said that in study group lectures and on audio tapes, the cleric had also attempted to recruit British youths for terrorist training.
El-Faisal, who had his sentence cut to seven years on appeal, is eligible to apply for parole after serving half his jail term, but has been informed he will be deported to Jamaica immediately following his release from prison.
British government officials acknowledged on Sunday that officials are concerned the cleric could appeal against deportation and be freed on bail pending a decision -- raising the prospect of his preaching again in Britain.
"Like all other individuals detained for removal or deportation, foreign national prisoners have a right of appeal against that decision. They also have the right to make an application for bail pending that appeal hearing taking place," a Home Office spokeswoman said, on customary condition of anonymity.
"The Home Secretary has instructed that all bail applications should be opposed as vigorously as possible and that where bail is granted the Home Office should apply for the most stringent bail conditions available," the spokeswoman said.
In the official British government report into last July's London transport network bombings, in which 52 commuters and the four bombers died -- the Home Office said 19-year-old Jermaine Lindsay, one of the bombers, had been heavily influenced by el-Faisal's teachings.
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