Abu Izzadeen arrested for encouraging terrorism in Britain

February 8th, 2007

London, England - British police have arrested an outspoken Muslim activist in London Thursday on suspicion of encouraging terrorism.

Abu Izzadeen, whose birth name is Trevor Brooks, is best known for heckling British Home Secretary John Reid during a speech last year.

Izzadeen has said in the past that the men who bombed London's transportation system July 7, 2005 deserve "praise." Recently, an Internet video emerged of him calling for the beheading of British soldiers.

However, police said the Internet video had nothing to do with why he was taken into custody Thursday. It has to do, police said, with a speech he gave in the West Midlands last year but gave no details.

Police said Izzadeen was arrested under the Terrorism Act at his home Thursday morning as the result of an ongoing inquiry.