LONDON, June 8: A US citizen was remanded in custody when he appeared in a British court on Wednesday accused of supplying Al Qaeda with military equipment.

Syed Hashmi was arrested on Tuesday night at London’s Heathrow airport as he tried to board a plane to Pakistan and detained pending extradition proceedings to the United States, where he is wanted on a terrorism charge.

The 26-year-old told Bow Street Magistrates Court in London he would fight attempts to send him back to the United States.

Lawyer Laura Rosefield, representing the US government, told the court: “It is alleged that he (Hashmi) has been supplying military equipment and currency to Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“His UK student visa has expired. He has no permanent address here, despite studying here since 2003. On his arrest a large amount of cash was found on his person.”

The court was told that a provisional extradition warrant was issued for Hashmi’s arrest on June 1.

It alleged that between January 1 and March 1, 2004, he received “military gear, intending that it should be used for the purposes of terrorism”.

He was indicted earlier this year by the United States District Court for the southern district of New York.

Hashmi was remanded in custody until June 15. Another appearance, possibly by video-link, was scheduled for July 6. — AFP