Terror plot trio facing extradition

Three alleged members of an Islamic terror group accused of plotting attacks across Europe have moved one step closer to extradition from Britain, a court has been told.

Bakr Hamad, Zana Rahim and Awat Hamasalih allegedly held senior positions in Rawti Shax and were planning to carry out a series of strikes in the West, including kidnapping diplomats.

Italian prosecutors have announced that there is enough evidence for the trio to stand trial, an extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court inLondon heard on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Julian Knowles QC argued that the legal requirement of trialreadiness has been met in the case. Prosecutors (in Italy) have taken the decision that they will seek to try the defendants, he added.

Hamad, 38, of Kingston-upon-Hull, Rahim, 32, of Derby, and Hamasalih, 38, of Birmingham, were arrested as part of co-ordinated raids across Europe led by the Italian authorities.A total of 13 people were taken into custody in Italy, Norway and the UK aspart of the investigation.

The case will be heard on February 10, 11 and 16 next year.

Senior District Judge Howard Riddle said: "For reasons you have been given before, you will remain in custody."