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| Guantanamo three return to the UK | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Three British residents held by the US at Guantanamo Bay for more than four-and-a-half years have arrived back in the UK following their release. | |
| Jamil el-Banna, Omar Deghayes and Abdenour Samuer travelled on board a chartered aircraft along with a doctor and Metropolitan Police officers. | |
| The men's lawyers said their clients had all agreed to "voluntary security arrangements" upon their return home. | The men's lawyers said their clients had all agreed to "voluntary security arrangements" upon their return home. |
| The government said their immigration status would be reviewed immediately. | The government said their immigration status would be reviewed immediately. |
| Another freed UK resident, Shaker Abdur-Raheem Aamer, is expected to return to his native Saudi Arabia. | Another freed UK resident, Shaker Abdur-Raheem Aamer, is expected to return to his native Saudi Arabia. |
| A fifth UK resident, Ethiopian Binyam Mohammed, will remain at Guantanamo. | A fifth UK resident, Ethiopian Binyam Mohammed, will remain at Guantanamo. |
| Police interviews | Police interviews |
| The three men landed at Luton Airport on Wednesday night. | |
| A Home Office statement said the US had agreed to their release on 10 December. | A Home Office statement said the US had agreed to their release on 10 December. |
| "This does not imply a commitment on our part that they can remain permanently in the UK and their immigration status will be reviewed immediately following their return," the statement added. | "This does not imply a commitment on our part that they can remain permanently in the UK and their immigration status will be reviewed immediately following their return," the statement added. |
| We agreed to exactly what the British government wanted because our clients have absolutely nothing to hide Lawyer Clive Stafford-Smith | We agreed to exactly what the British government wanted because our clients have absolutely nothing to hide Lawyer Clive Stafford-Smith |
| The men's lawyer, Clive Stafford-Smith, said: "All of our clients have voluntarily agreed to voluntary security arrangements requested by the British government. | The men's lawyer, Clive Stafford-Smith, said: "All of our clients have voluntarily agreed to voluntary security arrangements requested by the British government. |
| "I can't talk about the details because that's what the British government asked. | "I can't talk about the details because that's what the British government asked. |
| "We agreed to exactly what the British government wanted because our clients have absolutely nothing to hide." | "We agreed to exactly what the British government wanted because our clients have absolutely nothing to hide." |
| He said one of the men, Mr Deghayes, had been blinded in his right eye as a result of "US mistreatment" at Guantanamo. | He said one of the men, Mr Deghayes, had been blinded in his right eye as a result of "US mistreatment" at Guantanamo. |
| The men left Luton Airport in a police convoy and are expected to be taken to the high-security Paddington Green police station in London to be interviewed. | |
| But Mr Stafford-Smith said he expected the men to be released without charge after questioning on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. | But Mr Stafford-Smith said he expected the men to be released without charge after questioning on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. |
| 'Brutal treatment' | 'Brutal treatment' |
| BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said it was possible the men could be arrested and made subject to measures including control orders. | BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said it was possible the men could be arrested and made subject to measures including control orders. |
| I'm extremely relieved that Omar's ordeal is finally coming to end after over five years of suffering in Guantanamo Amani Deghayes | I'm extremely relieved that Omar's ordeal is finally coming to end after over five years of suffering in Guantanamo Amani Deghayes |
| Mr Deghayes' sister, Amani, said his family would be concentrating on helping him to put his ordeal behind him. | Mr Deghayes' sister, Amani, said his family would be concentrating on helping him to put his ordeal behind him. |
| "I'm extremely relieved that Omar's ordeal is finally coming to end after over five years of suffering in Guantanamo," she said. | "I'm extremely relieved that Omar's ordeal is finally coming to end after over five years of suffering in Guantanamo," she said. |
| "We're looking forward to spending the Eid as family together." | "We're looking forward to spending the Eid as family together." |
| She said her brother had been on the receiving end of "brutal and illegal treatment". | She said her brother had been on the receiving end of "brutal and illegal treatment". |
| Human rights solicitor Gareth Peirce, who has previously represented two of the men, said their families could not wait to see them. | Human rights solicitor Gareth Peirce, who has previously represented two of the men, said their families could not wait to see them. |
| "It happens that today is Eid so it is particularly poignant." | "It happens that today is Eid so it is particularly poignant." |
| 'Dangerous' accusation | 'Dangerous' accusation |
| The Americans accuse Palestinian Mr el-Banna of being an al-Qaeda recruiter and financier, Libyan Mr Deghayes of associating with al-Qaeda, and Algerian Mr Sameur of being trained for combat in Afghanistan. | The Americans accuse Palestinian Mr el-Banna of being an al-Qaeda recruiter and financier, Libyan Mr Deghayes of associating with al-Qaeda, and Algerian Mr Sameur of being trained for combat in Afghanistan. |
| There have been intensive negotiations between the UK and US authorities over the past few months. | There have been intensive negotiations between the UK and US authorities over the past few months. |
| The Pentagon insists that all five of the British residents are dangerous. | The Pentagon insists that all five of the British residents are dangerous. |
| About 300 prisoners are held at Guantanamo Bay, set up at a US naval base in Cuba after the invasion of Afghanistan in early 2002. | About 300 prisoners are held at Guantanamo Bay, set up at a US naval base in Cuba after the invasion of Afghanistan in early 2002. |
| The US argues that foreign nationals captured and detained outside the US have no recognisable constitutional rights. | The US argues that foreign nationals captured and detained outside the US have no recognisable constitutional rights. |
| It's important that the government speaks out about the hundreds of men still held there - including at least two other men with ties to Britain Kate AllenAmnesty International | It's important that the government speaks out about the hundreds of men still held there - including at least two other men with ties to Britain Kate AllenAmnesty International |
| Amnesty International's UK director, Kate Allen, welcomed the release of the three men and said they should be treated "first and foremost as victims of a serious miscarriage of justice". | Amnesty International's UK director, Kate Allen, welcomed the release of the three men and said they should be treated "first and foremost as victims of a serious miscarriage of justice". |
| "It's important that the government speaks out about the hundreds of men still held there - including at least two other men with ties to Britain - Ahmed Belbacha and Binyam Mohammed. These men must not become Guantanamo's forgotten prisoners." | "It's important that the government speaks out about the hundreds of men still held there - including at least two other men with ties to Britain - Ahmed Belbacha and Binyam Mohammed. These men must not become Guantanamo's forgotten prisoners." |
| She called on ministers to condemn the practices of rendition and secret detention, which the organisation claims "have fed the system at Guantanamo in the past six years". | She called on ministers to condemn the practices of rendition and secret detention, which the organisation claims "have fed the system at Guantanamo in the past six years". |
| Meanwhile, the Conservatives say the government has failed to give assurances on "issues of national security" posed by the men. | Meanwhile, the Conservatives say the government has failed to give assurances on "issues of national security" posed by the men. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "Does the home secretary agree with the US that these men are extremely dangerous? | Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "Does the home secretary agree with the US that these men are extremely dangerous? |
| "If so, how will the government guarantee the safety of the British public when they arrive in the UK?" | "If so, how will the government guarantee the safety of the British public when they arrive in the UK?" |