Radical Muslim Cleric To Be Arraigned In NYC Court On Terror Charges
NEW YORK (WPIX)—
A radical Muslim cleric who once called Osama bin Laden a "hero" and faces terrorism charges is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Federal Court in Manhattan after being extradited from Britain.
Abu Hamza Al-Masri and four other alleged terrorists arrived here early Saturday from London. They face terror charges after a court in London ruled they could be extradited immediately. Al Masri and two of the men are being held at the Metropolitan correctional facility in Manhattan.
He has said he lost both hands and an eye fighting against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and sometimes uses a hook to replace a missing hand.
Back in London Al Masri's supporters protested his extradition and clashed with police. The father of one of the men, Ashfaq Ahmad commented on his son's fate saying " I'm very disappointed, I thought we live in a democratic country, and we have got the best legal system in the world."
The high-profile cleric counts "shoe bomber" Richard Reid among his followers.
Al Masri faces 11 charges in US courts and could get life in prison if he is convicted.