UK frees 'bin Laden right hand man'

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Abu Qatada, a radical Jordanian Islamic cleric once described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, was released from prison in the United Kingdom on Monday (February 13) after the European Court of Human Rights ruled his detention without trial was unlawful.

Qatada, whose real name is Omar Othman, has been in and out of jail since he was first detained without charge under UK anti-terrorism laws in 2002.

Britain says video footage of his sermons were found in a German apartment used by three of the people who carried out the September 11th attacks on the U.S. in 2001.

It wants to deport him to Jordan to face trial on terrorism charges.

Qatada, who denies belonging to al Qaeda, has been fighting deportation for six years.

His lawyers say if he is sent back to Jordan he risks being tortured or retried using evidence extracted from others using torture.

He's been convicted in his absence in Jordan of involvement in two bomb plots and described by a senior British judge as a truly dangerous supporter of radical Islamist groups.