Hamza faces charges at Old Bailey

Abu Hamza has been held in Belmarsh prison since May

Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri has appeared briefly in court via video-link to face 16 charges, including soliciting murder and racial hatred.

He spoke only to say that Abu Hamza was the name he was known by in Britain at the Old Bailey hearing.

Mr Abu Hamza, 47, will appear for a plea hearing on 21 December.

Extradition proceedings to the US, where the cleric is wanted in relation to other matters, have been suspended pending the outcome of the UK case.

Asked if he was Abu Hamza, he confirmed that that was the name he was known by in the UK, but was not his real name. The Egyptian-born cleric is also known as Mustafa Kamel Mustafa.

Mr Abu Hamza has been held at Belmarsh prison since May at the request of the US. He was remanded in custody during Tuesday's hearing.

Charges

He faces 10 charges of soliciting to murder under section four of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.

Four charges were brought of using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to stir up racial hatred.

He is also accused under section 58 of the Terrorism Act of possessing a document which contained information "of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".

Lastly, Mr Abu Hamza faces one count of having threatening, abusive or insulting audio and video recordings.

He has always denied any involvement in terrorism.

Formerly a preacher at the Finsbury Park Mosque, in north London, he came to the UK in 1979. He received British citizenship after marrying a British woman.