As reported in the NYTimes today,which I will excerpt:
"The officials, both of whom said they could not be named because this was a security issue, said Mr. Islam was a financial supporter of groups believed to be linked to terrorism....

...After the interception of Mr. Islam on Tuesday, one of the government officials said, 'He is not on a watch list for making verbal threats.'
Mr. Islam was deported from Israel in July 2000 because he was believed to be a supporter of Hamas, the terrorist group...."

And the article said the diverted plane was kept on the ground for more than three hours. I guess it wasn't so far fetched to deport him. Not the kind of person I'd knowingly admit if I were able to make the decision.

Ellen