The Muslim radical who barracked Home Secretary John Reid was released on conditional bail after being charged with a terrorism offence. | Abu Izzadeen appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates Court accused of encouraging terrorism in a public speech, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2006. |
The 32-year-old Islamic convert was arrested on Thursday in east London over a speech in which he allegedly praised the July 7 bombers. Izzadeen gave the speech in Birmingham on July 2 last year, just days before the first anniversary of the London bombings. District Judge Daphne Wickham released him on bail on a number of conditions, including that he should not attend or address any organised meeting and that he should surrender his passport.
Izzadeen, an electrician and father of three, of Brierley Road, Leytonstone, east London, appeared in the dock wearing a blue fleece jacket over a white t-shirt. Also known as Omar Brookes, he hit the headlines in September last year when he heckled Mr Reid as he addressed a 30-strong group of Muslims in Leyton, east London. Izzadeen's arrest on Thursday was not related to that incident. If found guilty of encouraging terrorism, he faces up to seven years in prison.