Abu Hamza could be deported despite human rights ruling It would mean two men considered by the Government to be dangerous Islamist recruiters being back on the streets of London in time for the Olympics, considered to be a prime target for terrorists as well as occupying police in the country's biggest peacetime operation. Douglas Murray, of the Henry Jackson Society think-tank, said: "Abu Hamza was probably the most successful person that has been in this country for recruiting extremists. He's not the sort of person you'd want on the streets. Hamza, now 53, was an Egyptian engineer who acquired British citizenship after marrying an English woman, and lost an eye and both hands while clearing mines in Afghanistan. He made Finsbury Park mosque in north London his base and it became a gathering place for extremists, mainly from North Africa, with links to many of the most serious terrorist plots of recent years. He was questioned over the killing of western tourists in Yemen - where one of his sons was jailed - while his mosque was raided in connection with the plot to make the poison ricin. In 2004 the US authorities claimed he was a "terrorist facilitator with a global reach" but before he could be extradited he was charged in Britain with soliciting to murder, stirring up racial hatred and possessing a terrorist encyclopaedia. Jailed at the Old Bailey for seven years in February 2006, extradition proceedings against him have continued while he was serving his sentence in Belmarsh. Because of the time he has already served, he would be freed almost immediately if the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday rules that he cannot be sent to America. Hamza argues that the length of his possible sentence in the US Penitentiary in Colorado would amount ill-treatment under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman and degrading treatment. Other terror suspects who would be released if the court rules in their favour include Babar Ahmad, who has spent almost eight years on remand without trial, and Haroon Aswat, who has been linked to the July 7th bombings in London. While in jail Hamza won a court battle to strip him of his British passport but Whitehall sources say that his deportation to Egypt will be considered if the extradition bid is blocked. Ministers believe they do have the power to revoke his British citizenship, granted in 1986, and will discuss his return with the Egyptian authorities if he cannot be sent to America. A Home Office spokesman said: "We can confirm the European Court of Human Rights judgments in the cases of Abu Hamza and five others are due to be given on April 10. All six have appealed against extradition to the US.