Hamza ‘supported terrorism around the world’

Hate preacher Abu Hamza supported terrorism around the world as he used the cover of religion to hide his terrorist ways, a federal prosecutor has told a jury in New York.

The claim came in an opening statement at the trial of Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, better known as “Abu Hamza”, who was extradited from the UK in 2012.

Assistant US Attorney Edward Kim spoke just minutes after Judge Katherine Forrest rejected Mustafa’s request to deliver his own opening statement.

The government says Mustafa tried to create an al Qaida training camp in Bly, Oregon, in late 1999 and early 2000.

He is also charged with helping kidnappers in Yemen in a 1998 attack that killed four people, and arranged for fighters to attend an Afghanistan al Qaida training camp.

In October 2004, Mustafa was charged with 16 offences including urging his followers to murder Jews.