Qatada in prison over Lebanon escape plot

A RADICAL preacher once described as Osama bin Laden's "right-hand man" in Europe is back in custody today after being suspected of plotting to flee the country.

Terror suspect Abu Qatada, who was freed in June after a failed bid to deport him, had been held at his west London home. But he is believed to have been planning to flee to Lebanon, despite not having a passport.

Qatada, 47, was arrested after the authorities received a tip-off about the plot. It is believed that the UK Borders Agency was told that Qatada was planning to flee the country, and an emergency session of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission was convened. The meeting heard that Qatada had attempted to breach one of his 22 bail restrictions, and a judge ruled in favour of the Home Office's application to cancel bail as a temporary measure.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith then ordered Qatada's arrest and he was taken to Belmarsh prison.

Today Home Office lawyers will apply for him to be locked up permanently. A Government source said: "The Middle East would have been his most likely destination - probably Lebanon. In view of the strict bail conditions and the fact he has no passport, it would have been a pretty audacious plot." Qatada was released from Long Lartin prison in June after winning his fight against deportation to Jordan, where he was convicted in his absence of involvement in terror attacks. The Appeal Court ruled it would be a breach of his human rights.

Meanwhile, leaked intelligence documents have revealed "some thousands" of jihadists are planning mass casualty attacks in Britain. Cells of UK extremists pose a severe threat, according to the MoD, MI5 and Special Branch.