An update on the trial of the notorious British-based jihadist Abu Hamza. From [1] The Mirror:

MILITANT cleric Abu Hamza is a leading member of a "global conspiracy" to wage war on the West, a court was told yesterday.

The allegation was made in a statement by a senior FBI agent on the opening day of a hearing to decide whether he is extradited to the United States to face terror charges....

The hearing at Belmarsh magistrates court in South London was told he played a key role in Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror network.

Hamza is accused of plotting to set up terror training camps in Bly, Oregon, and giving letters of introduction to high-ranking Taliban fighters. The allegations also relate to a hostage-taking incident in the Yemen in which three Britons were killed in 1998.

If found guilty in the US, he faces more than 100 years behind bars - or possibly the death sentence.

An affidavit from FBI terrorism expert Michael Butsch said: "The evidence demonstrates that Abu Hamza is a member of a global conspiracy to promote Jihad against the US government and other Western countries."

Referring to his preaching at Finsbury Park mosque in North London, Mr Butsch added: "He taught his followers that Jihad demanded killing the enemy of Islam."