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Police feared 'airport stand-off' Police feared 'airport stand-off'
(40 minutes later)
An Israeli general wanted for alleged war crimes escaped arrest in the UK because British police feared an armed confrontation at Heathrow airport.An Israeli general wanted for alleged war crimes escaped arrest in the UK because British police feared an armed confrontation at Heathrow airport.
Documents seen by BBC News reveal that Major General Doron Almog was flown back to Israel after officers refused to board his plane in September 2005. Documents seen by BBC News reveal how Major General Doron Almog managed to fly back to Israel when police failed to board his plane in September 2005.
He stayed on board for two hours after a tip-off that he was facing detention. He stayed on board for two hours after a tip-off that he was facing detention. Police were concerned about a potential clash with Israeli air marshals or armed personal security on the plane.
Police were concerned about a potential clash with Israeli air marshals or
armed personal security on the plane.
Maj Gen Almog had flown to the UK for social and charitable visits to Jewish communities in Solihull, in the West Midlands, and Manchester.Maj Gen Almog had flown to the UK for social and charitable visits to Jewish communities in Solihull, in the West Midlands, and Manchester.
Lawyers acting for Palestinian campaigners lobbied the Metropolitan Police to act over allegations he had ordered the destruction in 2002 of more than 50 Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip.Lawyers acting for Palestinian campaigners lobbied the Metropolitan Police to act over allegations he had ordered the destruction in 2002 of more than 50 Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip.
Campaigners say the homes were destroyed by the Israeli army as retribution for a Palestinian militant attack, in contravention of the laws of war protecting civilian property. Campaigners say the homes were destroyed by the Israeli army as retribution for a Palestinian militant attack, in contravention of the laws of war protecting civilian property. Israel says destruction of Palestinian houses is among the necessary measures it takes to protect its citizens.
Israel says destruction of Palestinian houses is among the necessary measures it takes to protect its citizens.
The Met initially refused to get involved, citing massive pressures on counter-terrorism teams in the wake of the London bombings.The Met initially refused to get involved, citing massive pressures on counter-terrorism teams in the wake of the London bombings.
But the legal representatives successfully applied to a judge for an arrest warrant for a private prosecution.But the legal representatives successfully applied to a judge for an arrest warrant for a private prosecution.
Decisions logDecisions log
A decisions log prepared for the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which has investigated the incident, shows officers decided to detain the general at Heathrow's immigration control.A decisions log prepared for the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which has investigated the incident, shows officers decided to detain the general at Heathrow's immigration control.
Destroyed: Palestinians accused Maj Gen Almog of an attack on homes
They then planned to take him to a police station to consider executing the warrant.They then planned to take him to a police station to consider executing the warrant.
However, news of the warrant leaked to the Israeli Embassy.However, news of the warrant leaked to the Israeli Embassy.
Officials tipped off the general and he and his wife refused to leave the El Al flight for the two hours it sat at the London airport's terminal.Officials tipped off the general and he and his wife refused to leave the El Al flight for the two hours it sat at the London airport's terminal.
The documents now show Det Supt John MacBrayne, who was responsible for the operation, could not get confirmation that his team had the right to board the plane. The documents now show Det Supt John MacBrayne, a senior counter-terrorism officer who was responsible for the operation, could not get confirmation that his team had the right to board the plane.
El Al, Israel's national airline, had refused permission.El Al, Israel's national airline, had refused permission.
Det Supt MacBrayne is a leading counter-terrorism officer who most recently flew to Pakistan to investigate the killing of Benazir Bhutto.
Destroyed: Palestinians accused Maj Gen Almog of an attack on homes
In his log, he wrote: "Another consideration [was] that El Al flights carried armed air marshals, which raised issues around public safety.In his log, he wrote: "Another consideration [was] that El Al flights carried armed air marshals, which raised issues around public safety.
"There was also no intelligence as to whether Mr Almog would have been travelling with personal security as befitted his status, armed or otherwise.""There was also no intelligence as to whether Mr Almog would have been travelling with personal security as befitted his status, armed or otherwise."
The officer concluded there were real risks to the police and public and also had concerns about the "international impact of a potentially armed police operation at an airport".The officer concluded there were real risks to the police and public and also had concerns about the "international impact of a potentially armed police operation at an airport".
Apology to Israel
When Maj Gen Almog arrived back in Israel, the planned arrest caused a minor diplomatic storm, with Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom describing the incident as an "outrage".When Maj Gen Almog arrived back in Israel, the planned arrest caused a minor diplomatic storm, with Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom describing the incident as an "outrage".
In turn, the then UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw apologised to his counterpart for any embarrassment caused.In turn, the then UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw apologised to his counterpart for any embarrassment caused.
Hickman and Rose, lawyers for the Palestinians, demanded an inquiry.Hickman and Rose, lawyers for the Palestinians, demanded an inquiry.
A spokesman for the Independent Police Complaints Commission said its review had not identified the source who leaked details of the planned arrest.A spokesman for the Independent Police Complaints Commission said its review had not identified the source who leaked details of the planned arrest.
It also concluded police had not broken rules by failing to board the aircraft to execute the warrant.It also concluded police had not broken rules by failing to board the aircraft to execute the warrant.
John O' Connor, a former head of Scotland Yard's flying squad, told BBC One's Breakfast programme: "All they needed to do was to stop the plane from taking off and negotiate through the foreign office." John O' Connor, a former head of Scotland Yard's flying squad, told BBC One's Breakfast programme: "All they needed to do was to stop the plane from taking off and negotiate through the Foreign Office."
He said he felt the arrest had been "written off" putting "British justice is in the dock."He said he felt the arrest had been "written off" putting "British justice is in the dock."