Hamza arrest gives early wake up to Acton street


Armed officers swoop at 3pm to arrest radical cleric

The early morning calm of a quiet east Acton residential road was disrupted last Thursday when teams of police officers arrived to arrest radical cleric Abu Hamza.

Hamza was arrested at his home under an extradition warrant issued by officers from the Met's Extradition and International Assistance Unit. Officers from the MPS Anti-Terrorist Branch escorted the man to a central London police station  Officers from the Anti-Terrorist Branch searched the house the Extradition Act 2003.

Surprisingly many residents of the quiet residential street had mixed feelings about Hamza's departure. Whilst none supported his views, he had been a quiet and untroublesome neighbour and many felt that his presence on the road helped keep crime down because of the increased level of police surveillance.

June 1, 2004