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Tube employed convicted terrorist Mayor U-turn on Tube 'terrorist'
(about 1 hour later)
Mayor Ken Livingstone has defended the employment of the son of jailed Islamic cleric Abu Hamza on London Underground. The mayor has backed down over comments he made about the employment by London Underground of a convicted terrorist.
Mohammed Kamel Mostafa, 25, was jailed for three years in Yemen in 1999 for plotting a bombing campaign in Yemen. Ken Livingstone had earlier said he was "happy" for Mohammed Kamel Mostafa, son of jailed Islamic cleric Abu Hamza, to be working on the Tube.
But Mr Livingstone said: "Has he broken any law here in Britain? [No, so] we are happy to have him working for us." Mostafa, 25, was jailed for three years in Yemen in 1999 for plotting a bombing campaign in Yemen.
However, one Labour MP said his terror conviction should have barred Mostafa from a job and a union boss has called for a review of vetting procedures. But the mayor said because Mostafa had failed to declare his convictions, his employers "are correct to dismiss him".
"Mr Mostafa has convictions in Yemen," he said. "These must be taken into account.
"They should have been brought to light by those doing the security checks, the failure to do so must be investigated.
The mayor did not have all the facts to hand at the conference so we've put out this statement to clarify his position A mayor spokesman
Earlier, during a press conference at City Hall, Mr Livingstone appeared to back Mostafa's employment on the London Underground.
"Has he broken any law here in Britain? [No, so] we are happy to have him working for us."
A spokesman for the mayor explained his apparent U-turn telling the BBC News website: "The mayor did not have all the facts to hand at the conference so we've put out this statement to clarify his position."
Bombing plot
Mostafa was convicted of plotting to sabotage economic and tourist sites in Yemen in August 1999, when he was 17-years-old.Mostafa was convicted of plotting to sabotage economic and tourist sites in Yemen in August 1999, when he was 17-years-old.
Mostafa has recently been working for Tube Lines, a maintenance contractor for London Underground. He has recently been working as a labourer for a company contracted to Tube Lines, one of London Underground's maintenance firms.
The key point here is that terrorism is an international crime Labour MP Andrew Dismore It is understood Mostafa's previous convictions were not brought to light during his recruitment and he has since been dismissed.
The firm confirmed Mostafa had been employed by one of its contractors as a labourer on the network and he had met the relevant employment requirements.
However, it is understood Mostafa's previous convictions were not brought to light during his recruitment. He has since been dismissed.
The Tube's vetting procedures, are supposed to have been intensified since the 7 July bombings, but Bob Crow, head of the RMT, has called for a review of the Underground's current recruitment procedures.The Tube's vetting procedures, are supposed to have been intensified since the 7 July bombings, but Bob Crow, head of the RMT, has called for a review of the Underground's current recruitment procedures.
Labour MP Andrew Dismore said applicants with terrorism-related convictions anywhere in the world should not be eligible for employment on the Underground.Labour MP Andrew Dismore said applicants with terrorism-related convictions anywhere in the world should not be eligible for employment on the Underground.
"The key point here is that terrorism is an international crime," he said."The key point here is that terrorism is an international crime," he said.
"Bearing in mind what happened on 7/7, he should not have been working on the Underground.""Bearing in mind what happened on 7/7, he should not have been working on the Underground."
Mostafa's father, Abu Hamza, was jailed for seven years in February for incitement to murder and inciting racial hatred.Mostafa's father, Abu Hamza, was jailed for seven years in February for incitement to murder and inciting racial hatred.