UK to extradite Islamic preacher to US

? Britain’s Home Office on Thursday approved the extradition of an Islamic preacher who is accused of trying to establish a terrorist training camp in Oregon, a spokesman said.

Abu Hamza al-Masri once led London’s Finsbury Park Mosque, which was attended by both Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui and “shoe bomber” Richard Reid. One top British counterterrorism official described the mosque as a “honeypot for extremists.”

The Egyptian-born al-Masri was arrested on a U.S. extradition warrant in 2004, but the process was put on hold while he stood trial in Britain and appealed his convictions.

Al-Masri’s attorney, Muddassar Arani, said she would contest the ruling. Al-Masri – who has one eye and hooks for hands – already has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in Britain for fomenting racial hatred and urging his followers to kill non-Muslims.