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Bail ruling sparks review
David Blunkett is considering a change in the law to stop suspected terrorists being freed on bail.
The home secretary has described the release of an Algerian man with alleged links to al-Qaeda as "extraordinary".
The 35-year-old detainee, known only as "G", said that being held at Belmarsh prison without trial for more than two years had made him mentally ill.
On Thursday, the Special Immigration Appeal Commission decided he should be freed on strict bail conditions.
Mr Blunkett said of the decision: "I have not called it bonkers, but no doubt other people will."
Downing Street also expressed "regret" over the decision to release the suspect.
'Psychotic'
But the three judges appointed to review the cases of foreign nationals held because of suspected terrorist involvement said that indefinite detention had caused a state of psychosis in "G".
They agreed with Mr Blunkett that the Algerian was dangerous because of his alleged links with al-Qaeda.
However, they argued the risk was manageable if the man was subjected to very strict bail conditions that in effect put him under house arrest.
He will be under constant surveillance, can only receive Home Office-approved visitors and will not be allowed access to a telephone or the internet.
The judges said the man's mental deterioration made it less likely he would become involved in potentially dangerous activity.
The home secretary said this might be satisfactory for people posing a low level risk but not for someone who the judges themselves had agreed could be a threat to life and liberty.
Allowing someone like this out on bail is an extraordinary decision, which puts massive pressure on our anti-terror and security services," he added. |
G's BAIL CONDITIONS
- 'House arrest' does not exist in UK law, instead G faces very strict bail conditions
- Can only leave home with police escort
- Contact allowed only with wife, daughter, solicitor or doctor
- Anyone else must be approved by Home Office in advance
- Electronic tag must be worn
- Tag monitoring firm must be phoned five times a day
- Equipment that can contact outside world - such as computer or mobile phone - banned
- Existing land line phone removed and replaced with one supplied by authorities
- Access to home must be given to police, immigration officers and tag monitoring firm
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A spokesman for Tony Blair said: "We regret the decision.
I think it is only three months ago that SIAC said there was indeed reasonable suspicion that the appellant is an international terrorist within the meaning of [anti-terror legislation] and reasonable belief that his presence in the UK is a risk to national security."
Mr Blunkett had argued the suspect's mental condition was not serious.
But Gareth Pierce, the solicitor acting for "G", accused the home secretary of driving her client to madness.
Another prisoner who was held at Belmarsh on suspicion of terrorism has said some of his fellow inmates considered suicide in desperation at being held indefinitely without charge.
The former detainee - known as "M" - was released a month ago when judges decided there was no evidence he was linked to terrorism.
'Contempt'
He said that being held without charge and without limit of time had made his fellow prisoners "crazy".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "They did not question me once. If I am a suspect of terrorism, if they are thinking maybe I will do something against this government or this country, why didn't they come to me to ask me any questions?"
The director of civil rights group Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, said detaining people without trial showed the government had a "terrifying contempt for the rule of law" and was showing a "complete failure to observe the presumption of innocence".
But Labour MP Andrew Dismore told Today: "At the end of the day the government's job is to protect the state and the people who live in the United Kingdom ... in the end there are people who are a danger to our country where the evidence can't be presented in court."
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