Abu Hamza and four other alleged al-Qaeda plotters appear in US courts
Alleged al-Qaeda mastermind Abu Hamza al-Masri and four others face terror-related charges in US after losing extradition battle in Britain
A US judge has ordered Islamist preacher Abu Hamza al-Masri, who is seen by Washington as an Al-Qaeda mastermind, be kept in detention as he was refused the prosthetics - including his signature metal hook - that he wears because of his missing forearms.
Hamza and four other terror suspects who were extradited overnight from Britain appeared in US court in the latest stage of a transatlantic legal saga. All men except Hamza, who entered no plea, pleaded not guilty.
The one-eyed extremist, whose trademark hook on the stump of his right arm and other prosthetic limbs were removed, did not speak at the hearing in New York, except for a few words muttered to his court-appointed lawyer on Saturday.
Hamza claims to have lost his hands fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan. His lawyers in England said he suffers from depression, chronic sleep deprivation, diabetes and other ailments.
Hamza, 54, faces terror charges over a 1998 kidnapping in Yemen, setting up an al-Qaeda-style training camp in the northwestern state of Oregon and for "facilitating violent jihad" in Afghanistan. He will be formally charged tomorrow.
Wearing a blue prisoner's outfit, the long-bearded Hamza kept his shaved head of white hair bowed during the hearing before US Magistrate Judge Frank Maas, who summarised the 11 charges before him.
Sabrina Shroff, a lawyer for the cleric, requested the authorities return his special shoes, without which "he will not be able to function in a civilized way", and requested medical care on account of his diabetes.