Theresa May given deadline over terror suspect

THE Home Secretary has been given until 13 June to seek assurances from US authorities over how a UK terror suspect linked to radical preacher Abu Hamza will be treated if he is extradited to America for trial.
Theresa May has been given 60 days to provide assurances on the treatment of Haroon Aswat. Picture: PATheresa May has been given 60 days to provide assurances on the treatment of Haroon Aswat. Picture: PA
Theresa May has been given 60 days to provide assurances on the treatment of Haroon Aswat. Picture: PA

Two High Court judges warned Theresa May that if there are no US assurances by 4pm on 13 June, her decision to go ahead with the extradition of Haroon Aswat, despite a European court ruling blocking his removal, will be quashed.

Aswat is facing 11 terrorist charges and is accused by the US of conspiring with Abu Hamza, whose trial is due to begin this week, to establish a jihadi training camp in Oregon.

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His extradition was blocked last year by judges in the European Court of Human Rights, who ruled that he could face inhumane treatment as there were no guarantees over where he would be detained.

His lawyers argued at a hearing at London’s High Court earlier this month that he was mentally ill but could face potential confinement in ADX Florence, a “supermax” US jail.

Aswat, a British citizen, was transferred from prison to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital in 2008 suffering with paranoid schizophrenia.

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