Comment

Overnight Ocean

457
NJDhockeyfan12/01/2009 10:10:31 am PST

Al-Qaeda ‘terrorists’ win right to hear secret evidence

Both men are in prison but if the government refuses to release the information they would be freed on bail with minimal restrictions.

One of the men, who can only be referred to as “U”, is allegedly an associate of Osama bin Laden who was once a senior al-Qaeda instructor and one of the world’s most wanted terrorists.

He was arrested in connection with separate plots to blow up Los Angeles airport and the Christmas market in Strasbourg and is said to have “direct links to Osama bin Laden and other senior al-Qaeda figures.” He has already been released on bail and re-arrested.

The other, “XC” is a 23-year-old Pakistani student who is said to be the “co-ordinator” behind a plot in Manchester last Easter that was “directed by al-Qaeda based overseas.”

The Government is trying to deport him as a member of a “UK-based network involved in terrorist operational activity in the UK, most likely attack planning.”

The ruling could also have an influence on the case of Abu Qatada, once described as Osama bin Laden’s “ambassador in Europe” who was released on bail and then re-arrested after breaching his bail conditions.

The Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, said he was “surprised and disappointed” by the ruling and added: “My sole objective is protecting the public and this judgment will make that job harder.