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Abu Qatada released from prison | Abu Qatada released from prison |
(10 minutes later) | |
The radical Islamist preacher Abu Qatada has been released from jail. | |
Qatada, 47, was freed from Long Lartin Prison, in Worcestershire, at about 2020 BST after winning his fight against deportation from Britain. | |
A senior judge earlier signed papers authorising the release of Qatada, previously described as Osama Bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe. | |
The Palestinian-Jordanian preacher will be subjected to a 22-hour home curfew and tight restrictions on his liberty. | |
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said she is "disappointed" with the decision to release him, and says the government will appeal. | |
Qatada was once described by a judge as a "truly dangerous individual at the centre of al Qaeda's activities in the UK". | |
Last month the Court of Appeal blocked his deportation to Jordan, where Qatada has been convicted in his absence of involvement in terror attacks. | |
Appeal Court judges feared evidence gained from torture could be used against Qatada in a future trial. |