LONDON, March 9: Radical cleric Abu Qatada, once dubbed Osama bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe, has been arrested in London for allegedly breaching his bail conditions, officials said on Saturday.

The arrest by the UK Border Agency came just days ahead of the British government’s latest bid to try to deport Abu Qatada to Jordan, where he was convicted in absentia of involvement in terror attacks in 1998.

Lawyers for Home Secretary Theresa May will on Monday challenge a ruling by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) that Abu Qatada cannot be deported over fears that evidence obtained through torture could be used against him in any retrial.The cleric was released on bail following November’s ruling, causing huge frustration in London, where successive governments have been trying to send the Jordanian home for a decade.

“The UK Border Agency arrested a 52-year-old man from north London for alleged breaches of his bail conditions imposed by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission,” a spokesman for the Home Office interior ministry said. He added that the breach will be considered by the commission at the earliest opportunity.—AFP