Posted on 01/26/2005 1:46:29 PM PST by Cornpone
The four British men who returned home from Guantanamo Bay on Tuesday have been released without charge by police.
Moazzam Begg, Martin Mubanga, Feroz Abbasi and Richard Belmar were due to leave Paddington Green police station on Wednesday night, Scotland Yard said.
They had been questioned by anti-terrorist officers in the UK after being held at the camp in Cuba for three years.
The men had been accused by the US of having links to al-Qaeda.
Family reunion
They are now being reunited with their families at a location of their choice, police said.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Shortly before 9pm four men arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 on January 25 were released without charge.
"This followed liaison between police and the Crown Prosecution Service."
He said the men had been interviewed by anti-terrorist officers after being arrested under section 41 of the act, which referred to the alleged involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Mr Abbasi, 24, Mr Belmar, 25, Mr Mubanga, 32, all from London and Mr Begg, 36, from Birmingham, returned to the UK on Tuesday evening in an RAF plane.
Washington had claimed all four were "enemy combatants" who trained at camps run by al-Qaeda.
The Pentagon says they were freed after the UK government promised they would not be a threat to the national security of the US or any of its allies.
The BBC is having mental orgasm about this.
Heroes of Britain
Probably but maybe not. I'm sure they're frustrated there was no way to "sex up" the story. Its already maximally obscene. Less than 36 hours in custody? Maybe they're just bait.
"four British men"
These maggots may have British passports, but they're not British. Their only allegiance is to their terrorist comrades and their demented religious views.
I really really really wish the government had terminated these creeps before ever bringing them to Gitmo. Who'd notice the difference?
Couldn't agree more!
Agreed. Islamists have no nationality as they are all members of the 'Umma', or the world Islamic community. This is where the west errs, to confuse religion with Islam. Islam or, more properly Islamism, is a neo-fascist movement bent on destruction of the nation-state and world domination.
The brits will watch these lads closely, don't worry, be happy!
The passport is moreimportant than any religion or race.
It ensures that the British govt will look after you.
The Americans should treat any holder of the British passport with the same deferrence that is given to the US passport.
John Walker Lindh did not go to Gitmo and neither should these guys. They should have either shot them or given to the British.
Why? The US has been releasing Gitmo detainees over the years. Back in 2003 the US released 27 under the premise of
"..in consultation with other senior U.S. government officials, determined that these detainees either no longer posed a threat to U.S. security or no longer required detention by the United States."
"They should have either shot them or given to the British."
I'd rather they'd have been shot (after interrogation). Britain's record on dealing with terrorists - both foreign and domestic - is unenviable.
I thought the Brits were on our side? I guess not.
It may seem that way. But most of the open supporters of AL quaeda and the like are in our pay.
For the British it is a case of pride over the power of our passport. And also the lack of getting a fair trial did not help. Had it been in a US court then no one would have cared.
Well the Bush admin released them to the BRits so maybe Bush is not on our side either.
Well considering a few of them were actually innocent of any connection to terrorism I do not think that would be a good idea.
Actually, according to the report I heard yesterday, we released them to the Brits after they promised us they would not be in a position to harm the U.S. again.
A report from the Whitehouse or from the media?
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