A FIREBRAND preacher once described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe was granted bail yesterday by an immigration tribunal.
Abu Qatada, who last month defeated the government's efforts to deport him to Jordan, will be subject to a 22-hour curfew when he is released.
Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, said she was "extremely disappointed" at the decision and promi
sed "all steps necessary to protect the public". The bail decision by the Special Immigration Advisory Tribunal is a fresh blow to the government's anti-terror policies. Now the Home Office, which is appealing the decision to block the deportation, will seek the strictest possible bail conditions on the preacher.
Qatada has been convicted in his absence in Jordan of involvement with terror attacks in 1998. The radical cleric once called on British Muslims to martyr themselves, and tapes of his sermons were found in a flat in Germany used by some of the 11 September hijackers.
Ms Smith said: "I am extremely disappointed that the courts have granted Abu Qatada bail, albeit with very strict conditions.
"Public safety is our main priority and we will take all steps necessary to protect the public."
He is being held in Belmarsh high-security prison but could be released within weeks.
The full article contains 220 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
