Terror Suspect Escapes in Pakistan

Associated Press with CBS News ^ | December 15, 2007

[yorkie]

Rashid Rauf, a British suspect in an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners, escaped from police custody in Pakistan on Saturday, officials said.

Rauf escaped after appearing before a judge at a court in the capital, Islamabad, said Khalid Pervez, a city police official.

Pervez said Rauf managed to open his handcuffs and evade two police guards who were taking him back to jail in the nearby city of Rawalpindi.

"We do not know how he escaped. But we do know he has escaped and the two policemen have been taken into custody for negligence," Pervez told The Associated Press.

Federal Interior Secretary Kamal Shah said he had been informed of the escape, but said he had no details.

The British government this week denied media reports that Rauf was to be extradited from Pakistan as part of a secret deal involving the arrest in Britain of two suspects wanted by Pakistan.

"I don't know anything - I'm shocked," Rauf's father, Abdul Rauf, told The Associated Press by telephone from Birmingham, 200 miles (321 kilometers) north of London.

Rauf, who also has a Pakistani passport, was arrested by Pakistani intelligence agents in August on a tip from their British counterparts.

He has been described as a key suspect in a purported plot to blow up jetliners flying from Britain to the United States, which prompted a major security alert at airports worldwide and increased restrictions on carry-on items.

[yorkie]

This is a very dangerous man - I pray they apprehend him immediately.

[Diogenesis]

He had a big smile on his face in the videos, before he was ‘let go’.

[IncPen]

This is a very dangerous man - I pray they apprehend him immediately.

Assuming he escaped, and is not leading the good guys to his cohorts...

< / movie plot >

[dbacks]

[We do not know how he escaped.]

Ya, sure, you betcha, fer sure, yup.

[stimpy17]

Just amazing what a little money in the right hands can do.

[yorkie]

FTA: He has been described as a key suspect in a purported plot to blow up jetliners flying from Britain to the United States, which prompted a major security alert at airports worldwide and increased restrictions on carry-on items.

This must be the guy who is the reason I can't bring lotion, perfume, razor, toothpaste, clippers or nail file when I fly!

[G8 Diplomat]

Pakistan ۋﮧ۱م

FReepmail if you want on or off

[G8 Diplomat]

Assuming he escaped, and is not leading the good guys to his cohorts... < / movie plot >

So many things going on in Pakistan would make great movie plots...

[mtbopfuyn]

Probably having hors d’oeuvres with OBL.

[G8 Diplomat]

Pervez said Rauf managed to open his handcuffs

Those must've been cheap handcuffs...were they made in China?

[The_Media_never_lie]

Like these?

Chinese Handcuffs