Abu Qatada To Finally Be Deported To Jordan

Timeline: Qatada Legal Battle

Updated: 6:39am UK, Saturday 06 July 2013

Abu Qatada has challenged and ultimately thwarted every attempt by the Government to detain and deport him for many years.

Here is a timeline of the legal battle.

1993: Abu Qatada claims asylum when he arrives in Britain on a forged passport.

1994: Allowed to stay in Britain.

1995: Issues a "fatwa" justifying the killing of converts from Islam, their wives and children in Algeria.

1998: Applies for indefinite leave to remain in Britain.

1999: April - Convicted in his absence on terror charges in Jordan and sentenced to life imprisonment.

October - Speaks in London advocating the killing of Jews and praising attacks on Americans.

2001: February - Arrested by anti-terror police over involvement in a plot to bomb Strasbourg Christmas market. Officers find him with £170,000 in cash, including £805 in an envelope marked "For the mujahedin in Chechnya".

December - Becomes one of Britain's most wanted men after going on the run from his home in west London.

2002: Arrested by police in a council house in south London and detained in Belmarsh high-security jail.

2005: Freed on conditional bail and placed on a control order but arrested again in August under immigration rules as the Government seeks to deport him to Jordan.

2008: April: Court of Appeal rules deportation would breach his human rights because evidence used against him in Jordan might have been obtained through torture.

May - Granted bail by the immigration tribunal but told he must stay inside for 22 hours a day.

June - Released from Long Lartin jail in Worcestershire and moves into a four-bedroom house in west London.

November - He is rearrested after the Home Office tells an immigration hearing of fears he plans to abscond.

December - Qatada's bail is revoked by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) after hearing secret evidence that the risk of him absconding has increased.

2009: Five Law Lords unanimously back the Government's policy of removing terror suspects from Britain on the basis of assurances from foreign governments and it is ruled he can be deported to Jordan to face a retrial on the terror charges.

He is awarded 2,800 euro (£2,500) compensation by the European Court of Human Rights after the judges rule that his detention without trial in the UK under anti-terrorism powers breached his human rights.

2012: January - European judges rule he can be sent to Jordan with diplomatic assurances but not while "there remains a real risk that evidence obtained by torture will be used against him".

February - He is released on strict bail conditions.

April - Rearrested as the Government prepares to deport him after Jordan gives assurances it will "bend over backwards" to ensure he receives a fair trial.

March - Qatada's legal team loses its bid to have the case heard by the Europe's human rights judges, clearing the way for deportation proceedings to continue.

May and August - Siac rejects Qatada's applications for bail.

October - Siac holds appeal hearing.

November - His appeal is granted and he is granted bail.

December - Qatada is moved to a larger residence in the greater London area.

2013:

March 9 - It emerges Qatada has been arrested for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. He is ordered to stay in custody and sent to Belmarsh.

March 21 - Police reveal the cleric is being investigated over extremist material.

March 27 - Home Secretary Theresa May loses her appeal over Siac's decision to allow Qatada to stay in the UK. The Home Office vows to appeal.

April 17 - The Home Office formally announces that it is seeking leave from the Court of Appeal to take the case to the Supreme Court.

April 22 - The Court of Appeal refuses permission to go to the Supreme Court, forcing the Home Office to appeal directly to the highest court in the land.

April 23 - Theresa May tells MPs she has signed a new treaty with Jordan that should pave the way to deportation, but warns it might take "many months".

May 10 - Qatada's barrister says he will go back to Jordan voluntarily if the treaty on the use of evidence obtained by torture, guaranteeing he will not be tortured, is ratified by the Jordanian parliament.

May 20 - Qatada is refused bail by the Special Immigrations Appeals Commission after "jihadist material" is found on a computer memory stick.

July 2 - The new treaty between Jordan and Britain is fully ratified, sparking claims Qatada could be on a plane within days.

July 3 - A Jordanian government official tells AFP the cleric is due back on Sunday.

July 7 - Due to be flown from RAF Northholt to Jordan

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Father In Court Over Daughter's Murder

The father of an 11-year-old girl found strangled at her home has appeared in court charged with her murder.

Rebecca Thompson was discovered at the house in Holmefield Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Saturday, June 22.

Her father Simon Thompson, 52, was taken to hospital after being involved in a car crash in the early hours of the same day.

He has now appeared at Hatfield Magistrates' Court, where he was remanded in custody.

Rebecca's headteacher paid tribute to the schoolgirl.

In a statement, Rita Cooper, head of Sacred Heart Primary School, said: "It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Rebecca who was in Year Six at Sacred Heart.

"Rebecca was a lovely girl who was hard-working and did well in her learning. She was looking forward to secondary school.

"The whole school is very distressed by this tragedy and our thoughts are with her family and friends."

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Rolling Stones Play Hyde Park After 44 Years

The Rolling Stones return to London's Hyde Park later - 44 years since their last famous gig there.

Their historic free concert on July 5, 1969, came just two days after the death of founder member Brian Jones.

The legendary band is topping the bill on the second day of a new festival, Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time.

Frontman Sir Mick Jagger has already hinted the concert will feature many of the songs from the band's 1969 set list.

In an interview with Absolute Radio's Pete Mitchell, he said: "Obviously, the same set list is going to be used, it saves me having to think."

The Rolling Stones performing in Hyde Park on July 5, 1969

Celebrated music producer Bob Clearmountain has flown in to put his magic touch to the proceedings.

And Grammy-nominated Clearmountain - renowned for his work as a live mix engineer - has been lined up to ensure recordings of the show are up to scratch.

Former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor - who made his debut with the band ay Hyde Park in 1969 - is expected to join them on stage.

Support act Gary Clark Jr, the blues guitarist, may also put in an appearance.

It is the first of two shows the band is playing at Hyde Park. The second is next Saturday. Both will be filmed and recorded.

It is thought the sound recordings will go on to be sold through the iTunes store, while footage is expected to form a future DVD release.

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Paul Gascoigne Arrested Over 'Drunken Assault'

Paul Gascoigne has been arrested after an alleged drunken assault at a train station.

The former football star, who left rehab in the US earlier this year, was held after the incident in Hertfordshire.

A Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to a report of a man allegedly being drunk and disorderly at Stevenage railway station at 10.30pm on Thursday July 4.

"Officers attended the location and arrested a 46-year-old male on suspicion of common assault and being drunk and disorderly."

He was taken into custody but was not charged, police said.

The Mirror reported that Gascoigne had grabbed a security guard by the throat before attacking ex-wife Sheryl Gascoigne when she tried to step in.

According to the newspaper, he was bailed after being held in a police cell for 12 hours overnight.

Earlier this year, Gascoigne said he wanted to "get back to reality" after the latest health scare in his battle with alcohol addiction.

In March, the ex-England and Newcastle player told Sky Sports News: "When I'm drinking I forget about everyone.

"I don't realise the hurt I'm doing to others but, you know, I've got to think about the hurt I was doing to myself.

"People come up (and say) 'never touch a drink again'. I don't know (if) I'm going to touch a drink again. I just know that I'm not drinking today."

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Met Approved Stephen Lawrence Friend Bugging

The man who was in charge of the inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence authorised a secret recording of a meeting between the teenager's close friend, his lawyers and police detectives, it has been revealed.

Scotland Yard said Former Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Grieve, who headed up the Met's racial and violent crimes task force, gave permission for at least one meeting between Duwayne Brooks and investigating officers to be recorded - without Mr Brooks' knowledge or permission.

John Grieve says the bugging was necessary to catch Stephen's killers

Eighteen-year-old Stephen was waiting for a bus with Mr Brooks when he was murdered by racists in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Fiona Taylor, who is in charge of the Directorate of Professional Standards, has written to Mr Brooks' solicitor Jane Deighton saying documentation authorising the recording of the meeting in May 2000 has been discovered.

The actual recording has not yet been found and is still being searched for.

Ms Taylor was asked to urgently assess what happened after it emerged at the end of June that the police had allegedly launched some sort of smear campaign against Stephen's parents, Doreen and Neville.

Following those shock revelations it was claimed that the police had made secret recordings of interviews between Mr Brooks, his lawyer and detectives.

Scotland Yard launched an investigation into those allegations last week. Nothing illegal has been uncovered so far.

Mr Grieve, who is now retired, has defended authorising the covert recording of the interviews at the offices of Ms Deighton, insisting it was done in order to protect the integrity of the evidence and make sure he was doing everything he could to find Stephen's killers.

Stephen Lawrence was murdered in a racist attack

Acting within the parameters of the law, he claims that if he had offered Mr Brooks and his legal team the option of recording the interview and keeping it, there would have been objections and the interview would have been quite different. His request to conduct the secret recording was approved by Scotland Yard.

But Mr Grieve has apologised for any "discomfort or dismay" the actions might have caused Mr Brooks and the Lawrence family.

In a statement, Ms Deighton said Mr Brooks was "going to take some time to absorb the enormity of the admission that the former DAC Grieve deliberately deceived him in the guise of providing him with victim support".

Former undercover officer Peter Francis, who worked with Scotland Yard's former Special Demonstration Squad, last month alleged that he had been told to find information to use to smear the Lawrence family, and spoke out about tactics that he said were used by the secretive unit in the 1980s and 1990s.

In the wake of his claims, Mr and Mrs Lawrence called for a public inquiry into the allegations, which the teenager's mother said made her feel "sick to the stomach".

Shadow minister for policing David Hanson said Mr Grieve's admission over the secret recordings "mean an independent inquiry is all the more needed".  

"These differing accounts of secret recordings and the activities of some police officers surrounding the Lawrence case and Macpherson inquiry (the 1998 public inquiry into Stephen's death) make it more vital we get full disclosure," he said.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said he remains open to further probes into the allegations but has so far resisted calls for another full public inquiry.

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Cuba Bus Crash: Two UK Tourists Among Injured

Sixteen passengers, including two Britons, have been injured in Cuba after a bus left the road and flipped over.

State-run newspaper Cinco de Septiembre said the crash occurred in the province of Cienfuegos on the route between Trinidad and Varadero, two popular tourist destinations.

The injured were listed as two Britons, two Czechs, four Dutch, one Filipino, one Irish and six Russians.

One of the injured passengers is taken to hospital

Cinco de Septiembre said three of the tourists were thought to be in a serious condition.

Two have reportedly undergone surgery and are in intensive care.

Carlos Mendoza, a doctor who attended the injured passengers, confirmed that three people were in hospital.

But he added that "at this time there are no life-threatening injuries".

Emergency services attending the scene

Other wounds included broken collarbones and minor lesions.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement: "We are aware of a bus crash involving British nationals between Trinidad and Varadero in Cuba on the evening of July 4.

"Our embassy in Havana is in close contact with local authorities. Consular officials are on their way to the area to provide assistance if needed."

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Police To Apologise For Use Of Dead Child IDs

Police are to publicly apologise for the use of names of dead children by undercover officers.

An investigation into undercover policing is under way by the Metropolitan Police after it emerged the practice of using the identities of dead children was widespread in the force.

None of the families of children whose names were used are thought likely to have been informed of this, which is said to be due to the risk of jeopardising the cover of officers.

It is even though Scotland Yard has received speculative inquiries from relatives asking the force to say whether their dead child's identity was used.

Instead, a public apology is expected to be offered next week.

Operation Herne was set up in October 2011 to look at allegations made against the Met's special demonstration squad (SDS), including them using dead children's identities and engaging in inappropriate sexual relationships.

Derbyshire Police Chief Constable Mick Creedon, brought in to oversee the operation, recently said it was "common practice" for SDS undercover officers to use the identities of dead children.

Some 23 officers and 10 support staff have been deployed to Operation Herne.

They have identified around 55,000 documents and have started to interview witnesses, including former SDS officers.

The investigation has already cost £1.25m and is expected to cost another £1.66m over the next year.

A Met Police spokesman said: "There is a thorough review and live investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour and practices involving historic undercover deployments.

"It would be inappropriate for us to provide a running commentary on specific allegations whilst this investigation is ongoing.

"The (Metropolitan Police Service) must balance the genuine public interest in these matters with its duty to protect officers and former officers who have been deployed undercover, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances."

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Ceremony To Remember Piper Alpha Disaster

The 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster, which claimed the lives of 167 people, has been remembered at a ceremony in Scotland.

The North Sea platform was engulfed in a ball of flames after a gas leak ignited on July 6, 1988.

Hundreds of people have attended a commemoration service in Aberdeen in memory of those who died.

They were joined by politicians, senior figures from the UK oil and gas industry and representatives from the Pound for Piper Trust.

The service, at the North Sea Memorial in Aberdeen's Hazlehead Park, began with the fly-past of a Sea King search and rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth.

The Piper Alpha oil platform on fire in the North Sea in 1988

It was the first aircraft to arrive at the scene of the disaster.

A roll call of those who perished in the disaster was also read out by the Reverend Gordon Craig, chaplain to the UK oil and gas industry, and representatives of the offshore workforce.

A lament played by a lone piper marked the start of a minute's silence for people to pay their respects to the men who lost their lives and all those who have been affected by the tragedy.

Floral tributes were also laid at the garden's central memorial statue, industry officials confirmed.

Speaking ahead of the service, Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran said: "Today we remember those who lost their lives on Piper Alpha 25 years ago and we stand with their loved ones who still live with the events of that night.

"What happened on Piper Alpha on 6th July 1988 left an indelible mark on Aberdeen, but this is an important day of remembrance and reflection for all of Scotland and for many communities in other parts of the UK, where families still mourn fathers, sons and brothers who went to work in the North Sea and did not return.

"One hundred and sixty seven people lost their lives as a result of the explosions on board the platform. It is one of the worst accidents of its kind in recent memory."

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Weather: Britain Sizzles As Temperatures Soar

Britain is basking in some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far as summer finally arrives across the country.

Sun worshippers were set to enjoy highs of up to 28C (82F) to 29C (84F) on Saturday in London, with temperatures soaring to 30C (86F) in parts of southern England on Sunday, while most of the UK will feel the heat in the mid to high 20s.

Crowds gathering in Hyde Park to watch The Rolling Stones later can expect to swelter in the sunshine, and Britain's Andy Murray will feel the glare of more than just the eyes of the Wimbledon faithful tomorrow.

The weather is much hotter than usual for the time of year - the average maximum temperature for July in England is 20.9C (69.5F).

Many parts of the country can expect to enjoy temperatures on par with popular Spanish holiday resorts.

Sunb lovers flock to Fistral Beach in Newquay

On Saturday the soaring temperatures sparked a run on the staples of a British summer, with retailers reporting a spike in sales of disposable barbecues, fresh meat and strawberries.

Waitrose said its burger sales are up nearly 90% this week, with sales of sausages and their vegetarian equivalents also surging. 

"The 'Pimmsometer', our internal barometer of good weather, is starting to move up a gear with sales up by 90%," a supermarket spokesman added.

Tesco meanwhile expects to sell 1.5 million cucumbers, 250,000 disposable barbecues and a million tubs of ice cream over the weekend.

And the heat wave gripping Britain this July shows no signs of letting up, according to Sky News Weather Presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar, with the good weather expected to last throughout next week and beyond.

The Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, central London

It means the UK is on course to enjoy its longest spell of hot weather since 2006, when temperatures were above 28C in many areas for around a fortnight.

She said: "Finally it seems the summer weather has arrived and is set to stick around for a while.

"This weekend the mercury could rise up to 30C (86F) in the south-east of England, elsewhere will be very warm as well with temperatures into the mid to high 20s.

"This time of the year the average maximum temperature in England is 20.9C so most areas will be above that.

"However, not everywhere will bask in the sunshine. Most of Scotland and Ireland will have cloudier skies with rain across the far north-west on Saturday, slowly spreading south and eastwards bringing a few showers to northern England by Sunday.

The sun rises over a ship off the coast near Tynemouth, in the North East

"Although the north-west of the UK and Ireland will be mostly cloudy, there will be some sunny spells at times and in the sunshine it will still feel quite warm."

"Coastal areas will be another exception to the sunshine and warmth. Throughout the weekend and into next week it will feel cooler around the coasts with onshore breezes. Mist or low cloud may plague some coasts too.

"Although most people will enjoy this sunny period, for some it will be too hot, especially across the south this weekend. UV levels will be very high on Sunday and Monday as will pollen levels for the next few days."

More recently, temperatures peaked at 30.7C (87F) between July 23 and 26, last year.

The previous highest temperature of 2013 so far has been 27C (80F) on June 30, but recent years have seen Britons endure wet and overcast summers.

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Murray's Semi Win Most Watched Moment Of 2013

Andy Murray's Wimbledon semi-final victory was the most watched TV moment of the year so far.

A peak audience of 13.2 million people tuned in to see the match, a BBC spokesman said, making it the most-watched moment across all channels.

The British number one won a place in Sunday's final by beating Poland's Jerzy Janowicz in four sets on Friday.

Fans celebrate the victory on Murray Mount

Even more people are expected to tune in to watch the Scot take on world number one Novak Djokovic in the final tomorrow.

The Serbian came through a five-set thriller against Juan Martin del Potro in the first semi-final of the day.

Murray came back from a set down to beat his Polish opponent 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

Speaking after a packed Centre Court crowd gave him a standing ovation, he said: "I'm obviously delighted with that. Very tough match today, completely different to any of the matches I've played so far.

Murray argues with referee Andrew Jarrett about the light

"He's a very talented player, very unpredictable. He had some huge serves out there and gave me very little rhythm. It was very hard out there today. I'm glad to get it done."

The All England Club said 31,084 people attended Wimbledon yesterday - an increase of 760 on the same day last year.

Thousands more packed the venue on Saturday to watch the ladies' final between number 15 seed Marion Bartoli of France and number 23 seed Sabine Lisicki of Germany.

Murray now faces Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final

Standing at 6ft 8in, 22-year-old Janowicz was the first Polish man in history to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam and he made life difficult for Murray through more than just his play.

The pulsating match, which played well through the evening, was interrupted for 20 minutes in order to close the roof due to poor light.

Coming at the end of a storming third set for Murray in which he had just won five games in a row and had worked up momentum in the game, the world number two was clearly dismayed.

Janowicz had been repeatedly complaining about the light but Murray branded the decision to give in to the Pole's requests as "ridiculous" and "unfair" during a loud tirade against referee Andrew Jarrett.

Speaking afterwards about the hold-up, Murray added: "I like to think this is an outdoor event and you try to play as much outdoors as you can."

But Janowicz was unconcerned by the upset he caused, saying: "I don't care. What I can do? I care about myself. I don't care if he was angry or not."

Murray revealed that he used the break to have a shower and refocus, while Janowicz called a friend.

"He was calling someone. He seemed very, very relaxed - he's in the semis at Wimbledon. But that's the kind of player he is," Murray said.

The win will give Murray a second go at breaking Britain's long wait for a men's Wimbledon champion, following Fred Perry's success in 1936.

Last year he broke down in tears after being beaten by Roger Federer in the final, but made amends by winning gold at the Olympics just weeks later against the Swiss.

Britain's bookmakers are preparing themselves for a million pound payout if the 26-year-old takes the title.

William Hill has Djokovic an 8/15 favourite to beat Murray in tomorrow's final, with the Scot at 6/4.

Odds are 9/4 for a five-set match, and Murray is 11/2 to win in five sets.

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