Eight men to face terror charges

Abu Izzadeen heckled the home secretary last year

Eight men, including Abu Izzadeen, are to stand trial on terror charges next year, a judge at Kingston Crown Court has ruled.

Mr Izzadeen, 32, charged under the name Omar Brooks, and the seven men appeared in court on Friday charged with terrorist fundraising.

He and four of the men were also charged with inciting terrorists overseas. They all deny the charges.

Judge Nicholas Price ordered the trial for 21 January, lasting about 10 weeks.

The offences relate to speeches made at London's Regents Park mosque in November 2004.

Mr Izzadeen became well known after being filmed heckling Home Secretary John Reid during a speech to Muslims last year.

The men facing charges of fundraising with him are: Jalal Hussain, 25, of Whitechapel, east London; Omar Zaheer, 28, of Southall, west London; Simon Keeler, 36, of Whitechapel, east London; Ibrahim Abdullah Hassan, 25, of Leyton, east London; Rajib Khan, 29, of Luton, Bedfordshire; Abdul Muhid, 25, of Whitechapel; and Abdul Saleem, 32, of Poplar, east London.

Mr Izzadeen, Mr Keeler, Mr Hassan, Mr Khan and Mr Saleem are also charged with inciting terrorism overseas.

Mr Hassan is further charged with having an article for terrorism.

Mr Izzadeen, Mr Saleem, Mr Muhid and Mr Hassan were remanded in custody, and the others were released on bail until a further hearing for legal arguments on January 9.