Reid under fire as terror suspects abscond

Home Secretary John Reid has come under fire after three terror suspects absconded while under control orders.

Scotland Yard said that they were alerted when brothers Lamine and Ibrahim Adam, 26 and 20, failed to contact a monitoring company on May 21.

Cerie Bullivant, 24, who has links to the two brothers, failed to report to his local police station on May 22.

Lamine and Ibrahim were born in Algeria and are of north African origin. Lamine is 6ft tall, of slim build, with a light complexion and short dark brown hair. He was last seen with a short beard or stubble.

Ibrahim Adam is 6ft 2in tall, of slim build, with a light complexion and short dark brown hair.

Cerie Bullivant was born in the UK. He is described as white, 5ft 7in tall, of slim build with brown receding hair and brown eyes. He is understood to have recently cut his hair very short.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of the Counter Terrorism Command, said: "We are making inquiries into the whereabouts of these men. It is possible that the public can help us to trace them. They have breached the conditions of their control orders, which is a serious crime.

"We know that Lamine Adam, Ibrahim Adam and Cerie Bullivant are associates and may well be together. I am asking members of the public who actually see these men not to approach them, but to call 999 immediately."

This is the first time that anyone subjected to control orders have been publicly named.

Speaking in the Commons on Thursday. Mr Reid said that he would outline new anti-terror measures before he steps down as Home Secretary in June.

He said that control orders were not the best option, but under our existing law, control orders are as far as we can go".

He said: "Unfortunately under these limitations, within the existing legal framework, it is very difficult to prevent determined individuals from absconding."

Six people have absconded since control orders - a form of house arrest, which places restrictions on an individual's movements - were first used in March 2005.

Earlier, the Conservatives called the news shocking. Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "John Reid's primary responsibility is the protection of the public. This consistent yet gravely dangerous failure to carry out that duty continues to threaten the safety of the public."

The Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesperson Nick Clegg said that a review was needed of the control orders system, which he said was "increasingly discredited".

(KMcA/JM)