Fury as BBC gives preacher of hate a platform

The BBC sparked fury today for giving prime-time exposure to a known Islamic extremist. Abu Izzadeen appeared on Radio4's Today programme on the 8.10 slot normally reserved for ministers.

The invitation from the BBC was seen as insensitive on the day a report into the 7/7 bombings was published. Izzadeen, an electrician from Hackney called Trevor Brooks before converting to Islam, has described the attacks in which 52 commuters were murdered as "completely praiseworthy".

Earlier this week he stopped a speech by Home Secretary John Reid with a rant. Speaking to John Humphrys for 12 minutes today he claimed Muslim communities were ready to "explode". He said Tony Blair was "an enemy of Allah" and Mr Reid "a tyrant".

The BBC admitted that furious listeners protested in "tons of emails" that Izzadeen was given airtime to make what was close to a threat of violence. Humphrys said: "We have had tons of emails about that interview I did with Mr Izzadeen.

"Some of you are appalled at the fact that we interviewed him at all."

Listener Alan Newlands wrote saying: "I'm outraged by the amount of time you have given to this madman. I'm outraged by the insult to the Muslim community you perpetrated by allowing this man to appear to represent even a tiny minority."

Jane Parsons said it was right to broadcast the interview but added: "I had to keep switching off the radio because I was so angry."

Margaret Cunningham said that the show had revealed Izzadeen in his "true colours". Dominic Grieve, shadow attorney general, said: "Abu Izzadeen is clearly a malevolent religious fanatic but he is certainly not representative of the Muslim community in Britain."

In the interview Izzadeen claimed British troops were crusaders who were "blessed by their priests before they kill Muslims".

Izzadeen was challenged by Humphrys about his views and asked why he did not stand for election. Asked why he did not go to a country where his version of Islam was practised, the radical replied: "So, there's going to be mass deportations?"