Muslim who heckled UK's Reid to appear in court

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) A Muslim who was watched by millions on television last year heckling British Home Secretary John Reid at a public meeting is due to appear in court today charged with encouraging terrorism, police said.

Abu Izzadeen, 31, from east London, was arrested yesterday by officers from the Counter Terrorism Command.

Izzadeen, who was born Trevor Brooks in Jamaica, shot to prominence when he heckled Reid during a speech to Muslim leaders last September. His arrest, however, was not linked to that incident, a police source said.

''Brooks, aged 31, unemployed, of no fixed address, is due to appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006, ie the encouragement of terrorism,'' a police spokeswoman said, reading from a statement.

A police source said the suspected offences committed by Izzadeen related to activities in the West Midlands area of Britain last year.

Anjem Choudary, an associate of Izzadeen, said the arrest was connected to a speech Izzadeen gave in Birmingham.

The case is not related to those of five other men charged overnight with terrorism offences, who were arrested in Birmingham in raids last week.

Reuters PDM DS1318