Abu Qatada Moves House Whilst Fighting Deportation Battle

Abu Qatada Moves Into 'Bigger House'

Abu Qatada, the radical Islamist preacher, has moved house while he fights the latest round in his battle against deportation, according to a report.

The terror suspect, once described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, moved home yesterday to what is believed to be a larger residence in the greater London area, The Sun reported.

The move comes after Home Secretary Theresa May was granted permission to appeal against a Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) ruling that Qatada should not be deported to Jordan, where he was convicted of terror charges in his absence in 1999.

Qatada's previous residence was worth £400,000

A panel of three judges found there was a risk that evidence obtained using torture would be used against the controversial cleric in a re-trial.

Qatada was granted bail following the Siac ruling last month and released from HMP Long Lartin, returning to his family home in London.

He is subject to a stringent list of bail conditions including a 16-hour curfew, wearing an electronic tag, having no mobile phone, a ban on using computers, and not meeting anyone without prior permission.

Qatada is said to have wide and high-level support among extremists, and featured in hate sermons found on videos in the flat of one of the September 11 bombers.

He has battled deportation for over a decade and has so far thwarted every attempt by the Government to remove him.

The cleric has faced demonstrations from protesters angry at his continuing presence in the UK.

A Home Office spokesman declined to comment on The Sun report. "We do not comment on operational security matters," he said.

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