Mr Ahmad, in green, is fighting extradition to the US

Babar Ahmad, 30, held in London, was charged by a court in Connecticut with supporting terrorism, conspiring to kill Americans and money laundering.

The charges were brought in the US as Mr Ahmad allegedly used US-based web sites to recruit al-Qaeda, Taleban and Chechen fighters.

Mr Ahmad last appeared in court in August and is fighting extradition.

He is also accused of supplying recruits with gas masks, night-vision goggles and camouflage gear.

Mr Ahmad, of Tooting, south London, allegedly ran several sites, including Azzam.com, to promote holy war and funnel money to terrorists, US investigators said.

The website allegedly encouraged people to train in street combat, land mine operations and sniper combat.

Navy documents

"If you're supporting the Taleban and the Taleban is killing American soldiers, we're alleging you're conspiring to kill American citizens abroad," Connecticut U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor said.

Mr Ahmad also had classified military documents describing the movements and formations of a Navy battle group and was in e-mail contact with an enlisted man aboard the USS Benfold, a Navy destroyer, US authorities said.

He was also charged with maintaining e-mail contact with a Chechen rebel leader.

Mr Ahmad, who is said to work with computers at Imperial College London, was arrested on 5 August in South Kensington under anti-terror laws.