Prisoner D freed after three
years’ detention
A foreign national held under the government's emergency
anti-terrorism powers since 2001 has been released. Home Secretary
David Blunkett said the weight of evidence no longer justified
detaining the Algerian, known as "D".
The man had been in the high-security Woodhill jail near Milton
Keynes since 17 December 2001.
His solicitor Natalia Garcia said her client was "choked" at the
surprise decision to free him. "He feels he's been locked up for
three years just on a whim. No reason has been given why he was
arrested and detained in the first place. It's mind-boggling."
She added that her client's life had been "decimated" and they would
be considering a compensation claim.
Detention upheld
It was understood that the man - who cannot be deported because of
the risk that he would be in danger in his country of origin - would
now receive discretionary leave to remain in the UK.
"D" was among the first eight foreign nationals to be held without
charge or trial under the Anti-terrorism Crime and Security Act,
introduced after 11 September. The man was held under a certificate
issued by Mr Blunkett and lost a landmark appeal against his
imprisonment in October 2003. His detention was again upheld in
July.
In the October hearing, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission
described the man as a "practised and accomplished liar".
His attempts to distance himself from other terror suspects and
assertion that he had nothing to do with the GIA (Groupe Islamique
Armee, or Armed Islamic Group) could not be believed, it said.
The commission heard that the Algerian arrived in the UK illegally
in May 1998 and applied for asylum in March 1999. His application
was refused in February 2001. In 1994 he was arrested and prosecuted
in France for membership of the GIA .
Mr Blunkett said in a statement on Monday: "In revoking D's
certificate I have made clear that any further activities that are
assessed to be a threat to national security could lead to him being
certified again."
The Home Office would give no further information, saying: "We do
not reveal details of individual cases nor details of any closed
evidence".
A spokeswoman said: "The Home Secretary has always been clear that
if new information came to light or if there were changes in any
circumstances, he would act upon those."
Mark Oaten, home affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said:
"If this individual was so dangerous that he had to be locked up for
nearly three years, how can it be safe to release him now?
"This case makes the government's policy of detention without trial
look even shakier than it did before."
Kate Allen, UK director of Amnesty International, called for an end
to internment. She said: "We've consistently opposed locking people
up without charge or trial under this deeply unfair legislation."
'Terrorist links'
Mr Blunkett last year told the commission that 'D' was an "active
supporter" of the GIA and his activities had included procuring
"terrorist-related equipment".
He had been involved in fraud to fund terrorist activities and had
links with Abu Qatada, the extremist Muslim cleric suspected of
links to al Qaeda, he said.
Of 17 people detained under anti-terror laws, 11 will remain in jail
after D's release. One has been freed on appeal, one released to
house arrest, and one detained under other powers. Two have chosen
to leave the UK.
Source: BBC News
20th September 2004 |
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