Suspected Al Qaeda leader Abu Qatada is celebrating his release from prison with the release of a book in which he urges Muslims to commit terrorist attacks in the West. In the 71-page tract, published in English translation on the internet, he repeatedly claims that fighting jihad, holy war, is obligatory for all Muslims and urges them to 'terrorise' non-believers. Security sources say his clear incitement to violence makes a mockery of the decision to set him free. The preacher of hate, who has been described as Osama Bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, was released on bail from Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire on Tuesday after the blocking of his deportation to Jordan, where he is wanted on terror charges. A judge ruled there were no grounds to keep him in jail, but the Special Immigration Appeals Commission imposed unprecedented conditions on his release, including a stipulation that he observe a 22-hour curfew and wear an electronic tag. He will be under round-the-clock surveillance in a MI5 safehouse and is specifically banned from contacting Bin Laden.
Counter-terrorism officials believe that Qatada, 47, remains a grave threat to national security and will be furious to learn he has yet again flouted the law by publishing his sickening views as he is set free. The revelations are likely to prompt demands for a new investigation into whether Qatada should be charged with inciting murder and racial hatred. A senior security source said: 'The contents of the book are an affront to all decent people. By publishing it now, Qatada and his supporters are giving the two-fingered salute to the criminal justice system.'
Referring to supporters of democracy, Qatada proclaims in his book that 'rising up against them with weapons and with force is an individual obligation upon every Muslim'. He says Muslims should ' prepare to terrorise the enemies of Allah and incite believers to fight'.