Doctor's Al Qaeda speech probe

Psychiatrist Eltigani Adam Hammad, aged 60, employed by the Doncaster-based Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, apparently talked about British and US defeats in Iraq and Afghanistan during prayers at Rotherham Hospital.

Some of his audience were apparently outraged - and another Muslim doctor stood up and told him to stop speaking.

A formal investigation was conducted by senior officers at the mental health NHS Trust and police were informed.

It is believed Mr Hammad has retained his position.

A joint statement from the Tickhill Road, Balby-based mental health NHS trust and Rotherham Hospital today said a clampdown had been ordered on the content of future prayer meetings, but that police were to take no further action.

It said: "In December last year a doctor employed by Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust raised concerns about the alleged inappropriate content of a prayer meeting he had attended.

"It had been led by another doctor who was an employee of the-then Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust.

"As a consequence of the findings, both Trusts agreed to implement a number of protocols to ensure appropriate content at future prayer meetings.

"Given the nature of the concerns raised, this matter was discussed with the police prior to and at the con- clusion of the Trust investigation."

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "We have been aware of the NHS investigation but we have not conducted an investigation of our own.

"If the NHS had discovered evidence of extremism, we would have been involved further."

Mr Hammad - who qualified in Sudan - agreed to stop giving further addresses before Friday prayers at the hospital.

Today a spokesman for the United Mosque Council of South Yorkshire said: "It was a Muslim who informed the authorities and it shows the audience did not agree with the speech."