A suspected terrorist - alleged to be part of the organisation that killed Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh - is to be extradited to the Netherlands on a range of offences, a court ruled today.

Rachid Belkacem, 32, dramatically changed his mind and consented to the extradition at Bow Street Magistrates’ Court, Central London.

Belkacem, who is being held at Belmarsh top security prison, south-east London, has been fighting extradition since officers from Scotland Yard’s extradition unit arrested him a street in Whitechapel, East London, on June 22.

The court heard that Belkacem, a Dutch national, was a member and participated in the activities of the Hofstad Group, the organisation which murdered Van Gogh.

Before coming to Britain, he had allegedly made comments about suicide attacks and promoted the cause of jihad in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

A search of his home address in the Netherlands on March 8 this year unearthed computer files and video tapes suggesting the recruitment of people for jihad.

Firearms and ammunition were also found, along with evidence which suggested he had been involved with making false travel documents available, the court was told.

After being warned by the court that he loses his right of appeal and could face additional charges in the Netherlands, Belkacem nodded from the dock and through his Arabic interpreter agreed to the extradition.

District Judge Daphne Wickham told him: "I order your extradition to the Netherlands following the consent you have just given me - that should be within 10 days starting from today.

"You will be taken in custody and extradited as soon as possible."

Between December 31, 2003 and January 17, 2005 Belkacem, who uses the alias of Abu Fadel, is accused of being part of a proscribed organisation.

He is also accused of conspiracy to cause explosions endangering life, conspiracy to commit murder and inviting and conspiring to provide support for a proscribed group.

And he is accused of possessing false travel documents for his own or others to use and of treason.

John Hardy, representing the public prosecutor of Middleburg in The Netherlands, said the offences would have amounted to treason if they had occurred in Britain.

Van Gogh, 47, was murdered in Amsterdam last November. The film maker and newspaper columnist had previously received death threats after his film Submission about violence against women in Islamic societies was aired on Dutch television.

Mr Hardy told the court: "I would expect that the authorities would make rapid progress towards Mr Belkacem’s removal and he could be expected to be removed before the 10 days."

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