26/01/2005

Guantanamo four to face police questioning

The four British nationals released from Guantanamo Bay are to face questioning by British anti-terror police today.

The four men, Moazzam Begg, Martin Mubanga, Feroz Abbasi and Richard Belmar, held for three years by the US military at Guantanamo Bay on suspicion of having links with al Qaeda, were arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, when they landed at RAF Northolt and taken to Paddington Green police station.

In an interview with 'The Independent' newspaper Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Steven has said that evidence obtained while the four were detained in Cuba was not admissible in UK courts. He said that the men would be questioned by police, if there was enough evidence then they would be charged, if not they would be released "as soon as possible".

The four men have been allowed to meet their lawyers and it is understood that they will be allowed to meet their families.

Lawyers have expressed concern at the condition of the men. Louise Christian, who is representing Mr Abbasi and Mr Mubanga, described the arrest of the men as "inappropriate" as they had been tortured and abused while being held at Guantanamo Bay.

US authorities have said that the men were freed after assurances were sought from the British Government that the men would not be a threat to [US] national security.

The families and Muslim groups have appealed for the men to be released, reunited with their families and allowed to recover from their ordeal.

However yesterday, Sir John Stevens said, as with the previous five men released from Guantanamo last year, the men would be questioned by police officers.

(SP)

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