Abu Qatada makes new bid for freedom

Abu Qatada was flown to Jordan on Sunday morning. Picture: Getty

The 53-year-old, who is accused of conspiring to carry out terrorist attacks against Israelis, Americans and other Westerners in Jordan, in two foiled plots in 1999 and 2000, submitted a formal bail request via his lawyer, Tayseer Thiab, yesterday.

A military prosecutor said the State Security Court would respond within 48 hours.

However, suspects accused of serious crimes such as terrorism are rarely granted bail in Jordan.

The father-of-five found himself back in the Middle East after a near-decade long battle to boot him out of the UK finally came to a close in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Yesterday, the Home Secretary has told MPs something must be done to address the “crazy interpretation of our human rights laws” to prevent lengthy and costly deportation battles, like Qatada’s, from happening again.

She was met with a huge cheer from Tory backbenchers in the House of Commons, but admitted £1.7 million legal costs had dampened the celebrations.

Mrs May said: “I have made clear my view that in the end the Human Rights Act must be scrapped.

“We must also consider our relationship with the European Court very carefully, and I believe that all options - including withdrawing from the Convention altogether - should remain on the table.”