Al Qaeda Figure Hidden by U.K. Intelligence. Abu Qatada is described by some as “the spiritual leader and possible puppet master of al Qaeda’s European networks” This is interesting; the British fear arresting or deporting him for fear of terrorist reprisals, so British intelligence confines him and his family at a safe house out of the ken of official government channels. He loses contact with his network and is effectively immobilized with little risk to Britain … at least until Time magazine broke the story of this subterfuge, I guess. Reuters