September 1993 Abu Qatada, real name Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman, arrives in Britain with his wife and three children on a fake passport and claims asylum.

June 1994 Is allowed to stay in Britain.

March 1995 Issues a “fatwa” justifying the killing of converts from Islam, their wives and children in Algeria.

May 1998 Applies for indefinite leave to remain in Britain.

April 1999 Convicted in his absence on terror charges in Jordan and sentenced to life imprisonment.

October 1999 Speaks in London advocating the killing of Jews and praising attacks on Americans.

February 2001 Arrested by anti-terror police over involvement in plot to bomb Strasbourg Christmas market.

December 2001 Becomes one of Britain’s most wanted men after going on the run from his home in Acton, West London.

October 2002 Arrested by police in a council house in south London and detained in Belmarsh high-security jail.

March 2005 Freed on conditional bail and placed on a control order.

August 2005 Arrested under immigration rules as the Government seeks to deport him to Jordan.

April 2008 Court of Appeal rules that deporting Qatada would breach his human rights because evidence used against him in Jordan may have been obtained through torture.

May 2008 Granted bail by immigration tribunal but told he must stay inside for 22 hours a day.

June 2008 Released from Long Lartin jail in Worcestershire and moves in to four bedroomed £800,000 home in West London

November 2008 Rearrested after the Home Office tells an immigration hearing of fears Qatada plans to abscond.

December 2008 Qatada’s bail is revoked by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) after hearing secret evidence that the risk of him absconding had increased.

February 2009 House of Lords rules that he can be deported.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Charles blazes trail as sun king
• Thalidomiders win payout 50 years on
• Libel gag on talk of 'medical hurricane'