Abu Qatada can’t return to Britain after acquittal

Abu Qatada behind bars in court. The radical Islamist preacher will not be allowed to return to Britain. (EPA)

The Government has insisted there is no chance of Abu Qatada being allowed back into Britain after the radical Islamist preacher was acquitted of terrorism offences by a court in Jordan.

Britain fought a legal battle lasting nearly a decade to deport the cleric; he was finally put on a flight to Amman in July last year.

Following Abu Qatada’s legal victory todday, David Cameron’s spokesman said: “He can’t come back, and he won’t come back. He is a Jordanian and he does not have a UK passport. He would not be granted permission to enter the UK. End of story.”

He had been accused of plotting two terror attacks against Western targets in Jordan in the late 1990s. The 53-year-old was cleared by civilian judges at the State Security Court in Amman, but remains in jail awaiting prosecution on separate terror charges