LONDON — Extremist preacher Abu Qatada, once called Osama bin Laden's ambassador to Europe, faces a hearing Wednesday after being re-arrested in West London.
Abu Qatada was taken into custody over the weekend, apparently for violating his strict bail conditions, according to British newspaper reports.
British government officials maintain that the Palestinian-Jordanian preacher had ties to convicted shoe bomber Richard Reid and to Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in the United States for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Authorities accused him of raising large amounts of money for extremist networks in Britain and abroad and also providing spiritual guidance to Islamic terrorists.
However, Abu Qatada has so far been able to frustrate British government attempts to deport him or keep him in prison.
British appeals courts have ruled that Abu Qatada cannot be deported to Jordan because he could face torture there. He has been convicted in Jordan for his role in two bombings.
The prominent terrorist suspect was freed on bail in June — a ruling the government is appealing — but is confined to his home 22 hours per day and must wear an electronic monitoring device.
His latest case is to be heard Wednesday morning by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, a spokeswoman said, adding it should be about his bail conditions. She asked not to be identified because of the commission's policy.
Abu Qatada's bail could be revoked if he is found to have violated bail conditions, which aim to keep him from having any contact with terrorists. He is forbidden to use the Internet, computers, or mobile phones and is specifically prohibited from any contact with bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.