Abu Hamza denies aiding al Qaeda, militant groups
- 10 years ago
Abu Hamza al-Masri denies ever aiding al Qaeda or other militant groups.
The radical Islamic cleric took the stand in his own trial in a New York court on Wednesday, denying he ever gave material support for terrorism.
The one-eyed, handless cleric is accused of trying to set up a jihadist training camp in Oregon, aiding militants in a deadly 1998 hostage operation and providing aid to al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Abu Hamza took the stand after the U.S. government's final witness testified.
Mary Quin -- one of the tourists taken hostage in Yemen - described her daring escape, and also her confrontation with Abu Hamza two years later.
He acknowledged he had spoken with Abu Hassan - the militants' leader - on the day of the kidnapping.
But his lawyers have argued he intended to act as a mediator in the hostages' release.
Abu Hamza is expected to be on the stand for several days.
The radical Islamic cleric took the stand in his own trial in a New York court on Wednesday, denying he ever gave material support for terrorism.
The one-eyed, handless cleric is accused of trying to set up a jihadist training camp in Oregon, aiding militants in a deadly 1998 hostage operation and providing aid to al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Abu Hamza took the stand after the U.S. government's final witness testified.
Mary Quin -- one of the tourists taken hostage in Yemen - described her daring escape, and also her confrontation with Abu Hamza two years later.
He acknowledged he had spoken with Abu Hassan - the militants' leader - on the day of the kidnapping.
But his lawyers have argued he intended to act as a mediator in the hostages' release.
Abu Hamza is expected to be on the stand for several days.