Sunday, January 05, 2014

Would-be suicide bomber among SEVEN dangerous Al-Qaeda suspects to be freed from curfew within days

Seven dangerous Al-Qaeda suspects are to be freed from Government curfews and able to walk the streets within days, it has emerged. 

The men, some of whom are suspected of plotting to kill thousands on transatlantic airliners, will no longer be bound by electronic tags or curfew restrictions after the terrorism prevention orders are lifted. 

The measures were introduced in 2012 to replace Labour government rules which, according to the Liberal Democrats, undermined the suspects' human rights. 

However they only last two years unless the government can prove the suspects have engaged in 'new' terrorist-related activity.

Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed vanished after cutting off his electronic tag and disguising himself in a burqa
Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed vanished after cutting off his electronic tag and disguising himself in a burqa

Officials say such proof is hard if not impossible to come by as the men, who have not been named, know their behavior is being monitored. 
 
Under the curbs, suspects are required to stay at home for up to 10 hours each night, wear electronic tags and are banned from certain places. 

Among the seven due to be freed this month is a would-be suicide bomber known only by his initials, AM. 

The Sunday Times reports the 26-year-old was involved in what investigators called 'Operation Overt', a plot to attack flights from London to America in 2006.

Another is, BF, a former train driver who was part of a group of British extremists seeking terrorist training in Pakistan.

Among the men who are due to be freed is one who attended a training camp with the men behind the failed London 2005 bombings (pictured)
Among the men who are due to be freed is one who attended a training camp with the men behind the failed London 2005 bombings (pictured)

Others include a 30-year-old who attended a training camp alongside four of the attempted suicide bombers involved in failed attacks on London in 2005, and a man who was trained by al-Shabaab, the group responsible for the massacre at Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi. 

The whereabouts of two suspects is unknown, including that of Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed who cut off his electric tag while visiting a mosque last November.

A senior Whitehall security official confirmed the men would be released over the next month. 

MI5, the police and the Home Office has been working together to decide what action to take once the men are freed. 
'We've been planning how to mitigate the risks,' said a security offiIcial. 

The Home Office said it had 'tailored plans' to manage the risk, adding: 'These plans, similar to those put in place for the release of prisoners who had served their sentenced, are under constant review.' 

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