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Haneef terrorism charges dropped Haneef terrorism charges dropped
(about 1 hour later)
The Australian authorities have dropped terror charges against an Indian-born doctor over the suspected failed bomb attacks in the UK. The Australian authorities have dropped terror charges against an Indian-born doctor over the failed car bomb attacks in the UK.
Mohamed Haneef had been accused of giving "reckless support" to terrorism by providing a relative in Britain with his mobile phone SIM card.Mohamed Haneef had been accused of giving "reckless support" to terrorism by providing a relative in Britain with his mobile phone SIM card.
He has been in jail since he was detained by police on 2 July at Brisbane airport. Director of Public Prosecutions Damian Bugg said, following a review of the case, that "a mistake has been made".
His case has sparked concerns from both legal and civil rights groups. The case has sparked concerns from both legal and civil rights groups.
The case was withdrawn during a hearing at Brisbane court on Friday. Dr Haneef has been in jail since he was detained by police on 2 July at Brisbane airport.
Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions Damian Bugg said the "proceedings against Dr Haneef were discontinued on my motion". His lawyers said they would fight any attempt to deport the 27-year-old, who had been working as a registrar at the Gold Coast Hospital in Queensland before his arrest.
Earlier in the week, Mr Bugg announced he was carrying out a review of the case following concerns over some of the evidence in the prosecution case. 'Keystone Cops'
Dr Haneef, 27, had been working at the Gold Coast Hospital in Queensland when he was detained trying to board a flight to India. The case was withdrawn during a hearing at Brisbane court on Friday at the request of Mr Bugg.
The arrest followed the suspected failed bomb attacks in central London and at Glasgow international airport. He told a news conference that a review of the case found that there was no reasonable prospect of convicting Dr Haneef on the evidence available.
Dr Haneef's ongoing detention sparked concern
"In the circumstances of this case I do not believe that evidence to prove the case to the requisite standard will be obtained," he said. "On my view of the matter a mistake has been made."
The case against Dr Haneef came under question after prosecution evidence made in a previous hearing was disputed.
Prosecutors had claimed that the doctor's SIM card had been found in the burning car that crashed into Glasgow international airport on 30 June.
But it later emerged the card had actually been found in a flat in Liverpool, some 300km (185 miles) from Glasgow, where his cousin lived.
The decision to drop the charges was accepted by the head of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Mick Keelty, who attended the news conference with Mr Bugg.
He defended police handling of the case, which had been likened to the "Keystone Cops" by Queensland premier Peter Beattie earlier in the week.
"This remains an ongoing investigation," Mr Keelty said. "It is a complex and painstaking process and the AFP will continue to work with its UK colleagues to fully explore the evidence and establish the facts."
Deportation threat
The decision by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews to cancel Dr Haneef's visa and keep him behind bars on 16 July - just hours after a Brisbane magistrate granted bail - will also now come into question.
Mr Andrews said earlier in the day that he stood by his decision, and Mr Keelty said he believed the grounds on which the AFP advised Mr Andrews "have not changed".
Dr Haneef's solicitor Peter Russo said he would fight any move to have his client deported following the dropping of the charges.
The doctor was picked up at Brisbane airport trying to board a flight to India within days of the failed bomb attacks on central London and Glasgow airport.
Three other people have been charged in the UK, including Dr Haneef's cousin Sabeel Ahmed.