UK terrorist given legal aid to demand more spending money from taxpayers

BRITAIN’s only terrorist on an anti-terror order has been allowed to challenge its conditions using taxpayer money.

The 28-year-old Islamist, known only as EB, was tracked by MI5 after returning from Syria with plans to bomb London.

He was put on a T-Pim -Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures- after being released from jail last year. 

But it has now emerged the bomb-plotter has been given legal aid worth thousands of pounds to challenge the ruling.

EB has won High Court bid to increase his weekly allowance from £50 to £75 as well as having his curfew reduced.

Under the original ruling the extremist was not allowed outside his home from 9pm to 7am but it has now been shortened to allow him on the streets until 11pm.

EB was caught by MI5 in 2013 with instructions for improvised explosives. He had been planning to meet fellow extremists in Cairo. 

Colonel Richard Kemp — former Commander of British forces in Afghanistan and a counter-terrorism consultant — told The Sun on Sunday: “The idea that our taxes should be used on legal aid to pay for this guy to challenge restrictions placed on him by the Government is repulsive.

“This man should not have been released — even on licence — and should still be behind bars.”

The taxpayer has also funded the terrorist’s complaints of not being able to “conduct private and family life” since being moved away from London.

Mr Justice Mitting rejected the possibility of EB moving back to the capital, but revealed in his ruling the State will keep paying for EB’s wife and mother’s travel arrangements.

He said in his judgment: “I accept that it imposes a substantial burden upon EB’s wife and parents because they have to travel to a provincial city to see him.

“The burden is somewhat mitigated by the Secretary of State’s willingness to pay the cost of their travel.”

The ruling has kept other restrictions enforced by Theresa May, when she was Home Secretary, in place.

EB will still have to wear a GPS tag and visit the police station weekly. 

Col Kemp said after the ruling: ““It says a lot about T-Pims that there is only one in force.

“The Government should reinstate control orders, which were more effective.

“If we have to use T-Pims, judges should not have the leeway to weaken the measures put in place by government and security services.”