LONDON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Al-Qaida's so-called spiritual ambassador to Europe has lost his appeal against being held by U.K. authorities, the Times of London reported Wednesday.
Abu Qatada, 43, is being held without trial or charge at a top-security prison in Belmarsh.
Born in Palestine as Omar Othman but with Jordanian citizenship, Qatada embarrassed security officials in late 2001 by disappearing the day before the law under which he is being held, The Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act, was rushed through Parliament.
He remained on the lam for 10 months before being found in October 2002 in a south London apartment. Officials claim he arrived in Britain in 1993 using fake identity documents to claim asylum.
Government ministers claim he is the most significant spiritual leader of Islamic militants in Britain, and investigators from a half dozen European countries are anxious to question him over his contacts with suicide bombers and senior al-Qaida terrorists.
Qatada "entirely denies" any involvement in terrorism, his lawyer said.
