NY jail sees terror suspect's fake arms as weapons

By Larry Neumeister

Associated Press

Published: Saturday, Oct. 13 2012 10:10 a.m. MDT

In this courtroom drawing, defense attorney, Jeremy Schneider, left, represents accused terrorist Abu Hamza al-Masri, center, in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, in New York.

Elizabeth Williams, Associated Press

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Summary

An Islamic Egyptian preacher brought to New York from England to face terrorism charges is forced to turn in his prosthetic arms every night in jail because officials believe the metal hook on one limb could be used as a weapon.

NEW YORK — An Islamic Egyptian preacher brought to New York from England to face terrorism charges is forced to turn in his prosthetic arms every night in jail because officials believe the metal hook on one limb could be used as a weapon.

Mustafa Kamel Mustafa's lawyer complains that giving up the arms leaves his client helpless for hours.

Mustafa is expected to be outfitted with a new prosthetic in the shape of a hand at taxpayers' expense of more than $15,000.

Mustafa, widely known by the name Abu Hamza al-Masri, faces charges of conspiring with Seattle men to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon. He's also accused of helping abduct 16 hostages, two of them American tourists, in Yemen in 1998. He has pleaded not guilty.

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