UK Home Office says radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza loses appeal, to be extradited to US soon

LONDON – Britain’s Home Office says radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri has lost an appeal regarding his extradition to the United States and that authorities will hand him over as soon as possible.

Al-Masri, considered one of Britain’s most well-known extremists, had appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to stop the extradition. But the Home Office said Monday the Strasbourg, France-based, court has rejected his appeal.

The Home Office said in a statement that it will work to ensure that the cleric will be handed over to U.S. authorities soon.

Al-Masri is wanted in the United States for a raft of alleged terrorist offences.