A CONTROVERSIAL Islamic cleric, arrested in terror raids in London at the weekend, used to coach junior football in the Bexley league.

Abu Abdulla, said to be a close associate of hook-handed cleric Abu Hamza, was once a coach in the Bexley and District Junior Football League.

A Turkish Cypriot, Mr Abdulla was called Atilla Ahmet before he converted to Islam in the mid-1990s and coached a number of under-16 sides in the league.

After his conversion, the father-of-three eventually turned his back on football and became associated with the controversial Finsbury Park mosque, where Hamza, now in jail in Belmarsh for race hate and terror offences, used to preach.

Former chairman of the league Brian Miller is quoted as describing Mr Abdulla as "a very intense character - a passionate coach" but his connection with the Bexley league came as a shock to a number of the present committee members and clubs.

Mr Abdulla, 42, was arrested by anti-terrorist police officers last Friday night at a Chinese restaurant in Borough, south east London, on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terror.

He is being held at the high security Paddington Green police station in London.

Meanwhile, anti-terrorist officers are searching Mr Abdulla's terraced house in Rangefield Road, Downham.

His brother, father-of-four Musa Ahmet was also arrested and his house in Prince John Road, Eltham, is also being searched.