Saturday, May 05, 2007

'Terror' pair are to be set free

A TERROR suspect found with a map showing a UK airport flightpath was ordered to be freed yesterday — to protect his human rights.

His alleged accomplice was also given bail after British judges refused to deport the Libyan pair, despite a deal by our Government with their country.

Both the Muslim men are considered a threat to national security, but may now be freed within days. The Government was last night reeling from the decision by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission — and Home Secretary John Reid was “stunned”.

The suspect with the map was branded “a global jihadist with links to the Taliban and al-Qaeda” by an earlier hearing of the commission. He was also called a “real and direct threat to the national security of the UK”.

Identified only as DD in court for legal reasons, it was yesterday revealed he had an A-Z map with a flightpath for Birmingham Airport drawn on it. The other suspect, referred to as AS, had been described in court as “an Islamic extremist who has engaged actively with a terrorist group”.

But the commission ruled both men’s human rights could be under threat if they returned to Libya. Chairman Mr Justice Ouseley said: “There is also real risk that the trial of the appellants would amount to a complete denial of a fair trial.”

The Home Office last night said it would appeal. A spokesman added: “We are very disappointed.”

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