By KUNA,
London : A terror suspect said to have “direct links’ with Osama bin Laden has been freed on bail after spending more than seven years in jail awaiting deportation, the UK Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) announced Thursday.
The 45-year-old Algerian, who can be identified only by the initial “U”, was released from Long Lartin high-security prison in Worcestershire, central England.
His release came just two weeks after firebrand preacher Abu Qatada was freed on bail by SIAC.
The development followed a successful appeal to the Court of Appeal, in central London, which overturned SIACs earlier ruling that “U” could be deported to Algeria.
The British Government has claimed in court that “U” was a leading organiser of a major terror group.
His followers plotted to bomb the Christmas market in Strasbourg in 2000 and were also involved in an earlier plan to attack Los Angeles airport.
SIAC concluded last year that there were “credible grounds” for believing the British Government’s claims that “U” had “direct links to Osama bin Laden” and held a “senior position” at a mujahedin training camp in Afghanistan.
The terror group formed and led by “U” had links with al Qaida, according to SIAC, and was known by one of the names the suspect used in Afghanistan.
But it cannot be referred to by journalists because of anonymity restrictions imposed by the Commission.
SIAC also banned publication of the exact details of his release and even the town where he will now live. Another court order prohibits the public from seeing any photographs of “U” or anyone at his address.
“U” had been in custody since February 2001, when he was stopped at Londons Heathrow airport trying to board a flight to Saudi Arabia on a false passport.
The US sought to extradite him but the application was withdrawn after the main witness against him, terror supergrass (informer) Ahmed Ressam, refused to testify.
A Home Office spokeswoman said “It is our position that individuals who are not British nationals who pose a threat to the national security of the UK should be deported”.
“We cannot comment on U’s case”.
“Bail conditions are a matter for the court, but we argued for and received very strict conditions indeed”, she added.
In comparison, Abu Qatada was bailed on a 22-hour a day curfew and with other limits on his behaviour and finances.