Businessman seeks private trial for UK terror suspects

A British businessman plans to take a private terrorism prosecution against two suspects, his lawyers announced today. In an extraordinary development, Karl Watkin announced that he wants to prosecute Babar Ahmad, 37, and Syed Talha Ahsan, 33 – who along with Abu Hamza face extradition to the United States – under the Terrorism Act 2000 and his lawyers have written to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consent.

They have also applied to Westminster Magistrates Court for a summons to try them for supporting terrorist activity, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act.

Both British men have been held in jail for more than six years fighting extradition to America and are awaiting a decision from the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights.

Mr Watkin, an entrepreneur from the North East who lists "making a difference” amongst his interests has campaigned against the Extradition Act 2003 since its inception and is a vocal supporter of Gary McKinnon, an Asperger’s Syndrome sufferer who has been accused of hacking into American military computers.

The businessman claimed today that he had obtained evidence which he believes establishes that Mr Ahmad and Mr Ahsan were involved in a group of websites called azzam.com, which are said to have played a key role in inciting young Muslims in the west to commit acts of terrorism, detailed how to train and encouraged financial contributions. (...)