A radical Muslim cleric described as Osama bin Laden's right hand man in Europe has been released by a local court in London, but has to wear a 'electronic tag'.
Abu Qatada, whose sermons are believed to have influenced the September 11 attackers and shoe bomber Richard Reid, was released from prison on Tuesday night after winning his fight against deportation from Britain.
However, he must wear an 'electronic tag', remain in his home for 22 hours a day and cannot use a mobile phone.
Also, he cannot go to a mosque and is specifically barred from associating with bin Laden and fellow Muslim cleric Abu Hamza.
The 47-year-old's curfew is expected to cost about 500,000 pounds a year to enforce. Qatada is also banned from receiving visitors to his home, apart from family members, lawyers, emergency services personnel and children under 10.
Justice Mitting at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruled that there were no grounds to detain Abu Qatada after previous attempts to deport him were defeated in the courts.
The decision to release the Jordanian-born cleric, who is on asylum, was greeted with dismay by the government. Home Secretary Jacqui smith said: "I am extremely disappointed. I am appealing to the House of Lords to reverse the decision that it is not safe to deport Qatada."
His release came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown said 21st century solutions were needed to deal with global terror threats and organised crime. The Special Immigration Appeals commission, which released him, previously labelled him as 'truly dangerous individual'.
