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Terror detainee leaves Britain | Terror detainee leaves Britain |
(10 minutes later) | |
A Pakistani man who was among 12 people arrested in counter-terrorism raids in the north west of England has returned voluntarily to his home country. | A Pakistani man who was among 12 people arrested in counter-terrorism raids in the north west of England has returned voluntarily to his home country. |
Tariq-ur-Rehman said his decision to leave was a protest against his treatment by UK authorities, which included being strip searched. | Tariq-ur-Rehman said his decision to leave was a protest against his treatment by UK authorities, which included being strip searched. |
Mr Rehman and 11 others were freed by police, but taken back into UK Border Agency custody pending deportation. | Mr Rehman and 11 others were freed by police, but taken back into UK Border Agency custody pending deportation. |
The remaining men are all contesting their removal. | The remaining men are all contesting their removal. |
Of the 12 men arrested in April in raids in Liverpool, Manchester and Clitheroe in Lancashire, 11 were Pakistani nationals, with 10 holding student visas. One was from Britain. | Of the 12 men arrested in April in raids in Liverpool, Manchester and Clitheroe in Lancashire, 11 were Pakistani nationals, with 10 holding student visas. One was from Britain. |
'No explanation' | 'No explanation' |
Mr Rehman arrived back in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Thursday morning, escorted by four British police officers. | Mr Rehman arrived back in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Thursday morning, escorted by four British police officers. |
I have been arrested just because I am a Muslim Tariq-ur-Rehman | |
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge spoke to him during the flight and Mr Rehman said he had been left mentally very disturbed by his treatment. | The BBC's Mike Wooldridge spoke to him during the flight and Mr Rehman said he had been left mentally very disturbed by his treatment. |
He was held in a high security facility, strip searched and had his cell searched with dogs, he said. | He was held in a high security facility, strip searched and had his cell searched with dogs, he said. |
He also told our correspondent he was never given any explanation of why he was considered a threat to national security and had never been involved in any such activity. | He also told our correspondent he was never given any explanation of why he was considered a threat to national security and had never been involved in any such activity. |
Mr Rehman added that he had come to Britain for a better life, but with suspicions of Islamic extremism hanging over him, his future had been "destroyed". | |
"I have been arrested just because I am a Muslim and I belong to Pakistan," he said. | |
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
The Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence to press charges against the 12 men - or to convince magistrates to allow police to hold them any longer. | The Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence to press charges against the 12 men - or to convince magistrates to allow police to hold them any longer. |
Greater Manchester Police subsequently defended the arrests, but an independent review of the case is under way. | Greater Manchester Police subsequently defended the arrests, but an independent review of the case is under way. |
Britain's top counter-terrorism officer, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, quit his post after accidentally revealing a secret document about the raids to photographers. | Britain's top counter-terrorism officer, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, quit his post after accidentally revealing a secret document about the raids to photographers. |
A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said it would not comment on individual cases. | A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said it would not comment on individual cases. |