Algerian is a 'security threat'
2006-06-17 22:48
London - A man described as a senior member of a group linked to Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was deported from Britain to Algeria on Saturday.
The man, who can only be identified by the initial "I", was returned to Algeria after voluntarily dropping his appeal against the deportation, said the British home office.
He was the second Algerian to be deported from Britain this weekend.
A man, identified only as "V", was flown to Algiers on Friday.
The home office said "I" was a senior member of the Abu Doha group and had received Mujahedeen training in Afghanistan in 1998 and 1999.
A home office spokesperson said: "An Algerian national representing a threat to the UK was today exported to Algeria.
'This is our shared commitment'
"The individual had withdrawn an appeal against deportation and is the second Algerian national being deported to Algeria on national security grounds.
"The British government is grateful to the Algerian authorities for their co-operation in facilitating the deportation of this individual.
"This is an indication of our shared commitment in the fight against terrorism and of the warm relationship between our two countries."
She said a number of other Algerians have withdrawn their appeals against deportation moves and that proceedings were underway to remove them from Britain.
A source close to "I" told Britain's domestic Press Association (PA) news agency that his decision to return to Algeria was "voluntary" and "out of desperation" at the way he had been treated by Britain.
Deportee detained without being charged
The home office has struggled for years over how best to deal with unwanted "security suspects" resident in Britain.
The British government was unable to deport "I", or others, to Algeria forcibly because human rights laws say they cannot be returned to countries where they face the risk of torture or ill-treatment.
"I" is said to be an expert in manufacturing electrical explosives.
The home office said he played an "active role" in facilitating Islamists' travel to and from Britain, provided stolen or forged credit cards and false documents to Abu Doha and associated with other "extreme" Islamists.
The Algerian was a former detainee at Belmarsh high security prison.
He was detained - without being charged - as a suspected international terrorist in April 2002.
PA said five other Algerians had dropped their appeals against their detention and also face deportation.