Students held in terror raids released without charge

Nine Pakistani nationals arrested over a suspected bomb plot in the UK have been released without charge by police but now face possible deportation.

Aged between 22 and 38, they had been detained for 13 out of a possible 28 days but were released because there was no evidence connecting them to terrorist activity.

Two more men are still being questioned under the Terrorism Act, while a 12th has already been handed over to the UK Border Agency for possible deportation.

Mohammed Ayub, a lawyer for three of the men, called for an independent inquiry into Operation Pathway and said their deportation orders would be challenged:

“Our clients have no criminal history, they were here lawfully on student visas and all were pursuing their studies and working part-time.”

“They are neither extremists nor terrorists. Their arrest and detention has been a serious breach of their human rights. As a minimum they are entitled to an unreserved apology,” he added.

Of the 12 men arrested in the raids, 11 were Pakistani nationals, 10 held student visas and one was from Britain.

The arrests were made after police raids on properties in Liverpool, Manchester and Lancashire and were brought forward by 12 hours after Bob Quick, Scotland Yard’s head of counter-terrorism, accidentally disclosed details of the raids to Downing Street photographers while on his way to brief Gordon Brown and Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary.

However, the Home Secretary told MPs on Monday that the error had not damaged the operation and that the only impact had been that the raids had been brought forward “by a matter of hours”.

It has also been reported that counter terrorism officers from Scotland Yard were in disagreement with their counterparts in Manchester and MI5 over the planned raids before they took place.

Security sources said that the arrests were premature and complained that police had panicked after picking up intelligence “chatter” that appeared to discuss timings and targets. Some of the suspects were allegedly under surveillance while photographing and filming at Manchester shopping centres and a nightclub.

It was hoped that the arrests and searches would produce evidence of bomb-making activity or components.

At one point a block of flats in Liverpool was evacuated but no explosive material was found. Attention later turned to the forensic examination of the suspects’ computers, but sources say that nothing has been found which can incriminate the men.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We are seeking to remove these individuals on grounds of national security.

“The government’s highest priority is to protect public safety. Where a foreign national poses a threat to this country we will seek to exclude or to deport, where this is appropriate.”