Radical cleric Abu Hamza is due to arrive in the United States on Saturday to face terror charges after he was extradited from Britain along with four other suspects.

The men were on board two planes which left a military airbase in Suffolk late on Friday night, Home Secretary Theresa May said. The suspects had made last-ditch challenges against removal from the UK which were rejected by two High Court judges in London on Friday.

Speaking after the US-bound flights had taken off, May said: "I am pleased the decision of the court meant that these men, who used every available opportunity to frustrate and delay the extradition process over many years, could finally be removed. This government has co-operated fully with the courts and pressed at every stage to ensure this happened."

abu hamza

Hamza, along with three others, was deported late on Friday night after losing a last minute appeal at the High Court

May added: "We have worked tirelessly, alongside the US authorities, the police and the prison service, to put plans in place so that tonight these men could be handed over within hours of the court's decision. It is right that these men, who are all accused of very serious offences, will finally face justice."

The five terror suspects were transported from HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire to RAF Mildenhall in a police convoy which arrived at the base at around 10pm on Friday. Officers from the Metropolitan Police's extradition unit handed the men over to US officials before they were taken aboard the planes which left British soil just before midnight, Scotland Yard said.

Earlier in the day, Sir John Thomas, president of the Queen's Bench Division, and Mr Justice Ouseley rejected an application by 54-year-old Hamza, a former imam at Finsbury Park mosque in north London, to be given time to undergo a brain scan his lawyers said could show he is medically unfit to face trial.

long lartin abu hamza

Hamza left the high security HMP Long Lartin on Friday

They also threw out challenges by Babar Ahmad, Syed Ahsan, Khaled Al-Fawwaz and Adel Abdul Bary, paving the way for the Home Secretary to give the go-ahead for their immediate extradition. All five cases returned to the High Court after judges at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) refused to intervene and stop the Home Secretary extraditing them.

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abu hamza

Supporters of Syed Ahsan and Babar Ahmad protest for their right to be tried in Britain

A US Embassy spokeswoman said: "The US government agrees with the ECHR's findings that the conditions of confinement in US prisons - including in maximum security facilities - do not violate European standards.

"The law enforcement relationship between the United States and United Kingdom is predicated on trust, respect, and the common goals of protecting our nations and eliminating safe havens for criminals, including terrorists."

A US District Court hearing has been scheduled for Ahmad and Ahsan in Connecticut, according to officials. Hamza and the other two suspects are on the other aircraft destined for New York, according to the BBC.

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  • BRITAIN-US-TERROR

    A man holds a placard calling for the extradition of Abu Hamza as he talks to Hamza supporters outside the High Court in central London, England on October 5, 2012. Radical Islamist preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects are to hear whether they have won their last-ditch legal attempt to halt their extradition to the United States. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages)

  • BRITAIN-US-TERROR

    A man holds a placard calling for the extradition of Abu Hamza in front of protestors supporting the rights of Babar Ahmda and Talha Ahsan outside the High Court in central London, England on October 5, 2012. The group are calling for the extradition of Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan to be halted and for their trials to be held in the UK. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages)

  • BRITAIN-US-TERROR

    A man holds a placard calling for the extradition of Abu Hamza in front of protestors supporting the rights of Babar Ahmda and Talha Ahsan outside the High Court in central London, England on October 5, 2012. Radical Islamist preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects are to hear whether they have won their last-ditch legal attempt to halt their extradition to the United States. PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages)

  • BRITAIN-US-TERROR

    Police clash with supporters of Abu Hamza after members of the group stole a placard from a man who was calling for the extradition of Hamza outside the High Court in central London, England on October 5, 2012. Radical Islamist preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects are to hear whether they have won their last-ditch legal attempt to halt their extradition to the United States. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages)

  • BRITAIN-US-TERROR

    A man holds a placard calling for the extradition of Abu Hamza as he talks to Hamza supporters outside the High Court in central London, England on October 5, 2012. Radical Islamist preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects are to hear whether they have won their last-ditch legal attempt to halt their extradition to the United States. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Anti-Extradition Demonstrators Outside The Royal Courts Of Justice

    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Protestors demonstrate against the intended extradition of Babar Ahmad to the USA on terrorism charges outside the Royal Courts of Justice on October 5, 2012 in London, England. The High Court is due to rule on a last ditch attempt to stop the extradition of Abu Hamza al Masri, Babar Ahmad, Syed Talha Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz to the US. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Anti-Extradition Demonstrators Outside The Royal Courts Of Justice

    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Protestors demonstrate against the intended extradition of Babar Ahmad to the USA on terrorism charges outside the Royal Courts of Justice on October 5, 2012 in London, England. The High Court is due to rule on a last ditch attempt to stop the extradition of Abu Hamza al Masri, Babar Ahmad, Syed Talha Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz to the US. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Anti-Extradition Demonstrators Outside The Royal Courts Of Justice

    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Protestors demonstrate against the intended extradition of Babar Ahmad to the USA on terrorism charges outside the Royal Courts of Justice on October 5, 2012 in London, England. The High Court is due to rule on a last ditch attempt to stop the extradition of Abu Hamza al Masri, Babar Ahmad, Syed Talha Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz to the US. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • BRITAIN-US-TERROR

    A man holds a placard calling for the extradition of Abu Hamza in front of protestors supporting the rights of Babar Ahmda and Talha Ahsan outside the High Court in central London, England on October 5, 2012. The group are calling for the extradition of Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan to be halted and for their trials to be held in the UK. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Anti-Extradition Demonstrators Outside The Royal Courts Of Justice

    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Protestors demonstrate against the intended extradition of Babar Ahmad to the USA on terrorism charges outside the Royal Courts of Justice on October 5, 2012 in London, England. The High Court is due to rule on a last ditch attempt to stop the extradition of Abu Hamza al Masri, Babar Ahmad, Syed Talha Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz to the US. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Anti-Extradition Demonstrators Outside The Royal Courts Of Justice

    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Protestors demonstrate against the intended extradition of Babar Ahmad to the USA on terrorism charges outside the Royal Courts of Justice on October 5, 2012 in London, England. The High Court is due to rule on a last ditch attempt to stop the extradition of Abu Hamza al Masri, Babar Ahmad, Syed Talha Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz to the US. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Anti-Extradition Demonstrators Outside The Royal Courts Of Justice

    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Protestors demonstrate against the intended extradition of five terror suspects to the USA on terrorism charges outside the Royal Courts of Justice on October 5, 2012 in London, England. The High Court is due to rule on a last ditch attempt to stop the extradition of Abu Hamza al Masri, Babar Ahmad, Syed Talha Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz to the US. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Anti-Extradition Demonstrators Outside The Royal Courts Of Justice

    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Protestors demonstrate against the intended extradition of Abu Hamza to the USA on terrorism charges outside the Royal Courts of Justice on October 5, 2012 in London, England. The High Court is due to rule on a last ditch attempt to stop the extradition of Abu Hamza al Masri, Babar Ahmad, Syed Talha Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz to the US. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Anti-Extradition Demonstrators Outside The Royal Courts Of Justice

    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Supporters of radical preacher Abu Hamza argue with a man holding a poster calling for his extradition, outside the Royal Courts of Justice on October 5, 2012 in London, England. The European Court of Human Rights backed the UK's decision to extradite Hamza to the US. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Demonstrators Supporting Babar Ahmad Protest Outside The Royal Courts Of Justice

    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: A man holds a poster calling for the extradition of radical preacher Abu Hamza outside the Royal Courts of Justice on October 5, 2012 in London, England. The European Court of Human Rights backed the UK's decision to extradite Hamza to the US. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Demonstrators clash with police officers outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. Britain's High Court is set to rule Friday afternoon on whether radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri and four other terrorist suspects can be extradited to the United States — judgments the government hopes will clear the final hurdle to their removal after years of legal wrangling. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • Abu Hamza extradition case

    Police restrain demonstrators protesting outside the Royal Courts of Justice, in central London, against the proposed extradition of radical preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects.

  • Supporters of Babar Ahmad shows their support outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London where Babar Ahmad is appealing against extradition to the United States on terror charges, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. Last week a European court backed successive British judges in ruling that Abu Hamza al-Masri, Babar Ahmad, Khaled Al-Fawwaz and Adel Abdul Bary could be sent to the U.S. to face charges. The four terrorist suspects are going to Britain's High Court in a last-ditch bid to avoid extradition to the United States. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

  • Demonstrators hold banners outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. Babar Ahmad and Syed Talha Ahsan, along with Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri and two other terror suspects are expected to find out today if they have won their latest legal move to avoid extradition from the UK to America for trial on terrorism charges. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • Demonstrators clash with police officers outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects are expected to find out today if they have won their latest legal move to avoid extradition from the UK to America for trial on terrorism charges. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • Demonstrators clash with police officers outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects are expected to find out today if they have won their latest legal move to avoid extradition from the UK to America for trial on terrorism charges. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • Demonstrators gather outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects are expected to find out today if they have won their latest legal move to avoid extradition from the UK to America for trial on terrorism charges. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • A demonstrator against the extradition of Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects runs with a banner after stealing it from a protestor with a different view point, outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects are expected to find out today if they have won their latest legal move to avoid extradition from the UK to America for trial on terrorism charges. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • Demonstrators gather outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. Britain's High Court is set to rule Friday afternoon on whether radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri and four other terrorist suspects can be extradited to the United States — judgments the government hopes will clear the final hurdle to their removal after years of legal wrangling.. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • Ashfaq Ahmad

    Ashfaq Ahmad, father of Babar Ahmad, poses with a banner as he leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London after hearing his son's appeal against extradition to the United States on terror charges, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. Last week a European court backed successive British judges in ruling that Abu Hamza al-Masri, Babar Ahmad, Khaled Al-Fawwaz and Adel Abdul Bary could be sent to the U.S. to face charges. The four terrorist suspects are going to Britain's High Court in a last-ditch bid to avoid extradition to the United States. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

  • Female demonstrators against the extradition of Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects gather outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects are expected to find out today if they have won their latest legal move to avoid extradition from the UK to America for trial on terrorism charges. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • A demonstrator holds a banner against the extradition of Adel Abdul Bari, outside The Royal Courts of Justice in London Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. Britain's High Court is set to rule Friday afternoon on whether radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri and four other terrorist suspects can be extradited to the United States — judgments the government hopes will clear the final hurdle to their removal after years of legal wrangling.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • Abu Hamza - Friday Prayers.

    Muslim cleric Abu Hamza addresses an audience of around 120 during lunchtime prayers outside Finsbury Park Mosque in north London. Mr Hamza today claimed that Home Secretary David Blunkett was acting like a 'Nazi Minister' over new measures allowing the government to strip people of their citizenship. 27/05/2004: Muslim cleric Abu Hamza, 47, who was arrested at his west London home early Thursday May 27, 2004, on an extradition warrant issued by the US government. He will appear appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court, sitting at Belmarsh, later Thursday.

  • Abu Hamza extradition case

    Demonstrators protesting outside the Royal Courts of Justice, in central London, against the proposed extradition of radical preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects.

  • Abu Hamza extradition case

    Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary joins demonstrators protesting outside the Royal Courts of Justice, in central London, against the proposed extradition of radical preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects.

  • Abu Hamza extradition case

    Demonstrators protesting outside the Royal Courts of Justice, in central London, against the proposed extradition of radical preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects.

  • Abu Hamza extradition case

    A protester holds a placard supporting the proposed extradition of radical preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects outside the Royal Courts of Justice, in central London.

  • Abu Hamza extradition case

    Demonstrators protesting outside the Royal Courts of Justice, in central London, against the proposed extradition of radical preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects.

  • Abu Hamza extradition case

    Demonstrators protesting outside the Royal Courts of Justice, in central London, against the proposed extradition of radical preacher Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects.

  • Hamza awaits extradition ruling

    File photo dated 06/04/03 of radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza who, along with four other terror suspects, are expected to find out if they have won their latest legal move to avoid extradition from the UK to America for trial on terrorism charges.

  • Abu Hamza delays

    File photo dated 25/08/02 of Islamic preacher Abu Hamza whose extradition to the United States has again been put on hold pending a further hearing next week.

  • Abu Hamza Al Masri

    FILE - in this Jan. 20, 1999 file photo, Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri speaks at a press conference in London . Radical preacher Abu Hamza al-Masri and three other terrorist suspects appealed to Britain's High Court Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 in a last-ditch bid to avoid extradition to the United States. Al-MasriÂ’s lawyers said his health is deteriorating and that it would be oppressive to send him to the United States when he is in need of medical tests. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)