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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Police to probe UK torture claims | Police to probe UK torture claims |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Police are to investigate whether an MI5 officer was complicit in the torture of ex-Guantanamo detainee Binyam Mohamed. | Police are to investigate whether an MI5 officer was complicit in the torture of ex-Guantanamo detainee Binyam Mohamed. |
| The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, said the probe would be "the appropriate course of action". | The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, said the probe would be "the appropriate course of action". |
| Mr Mohamed, 30, a UK resident, said MI5 had prolonged his detention and torture while he was being held in Morocco. | Mr Mohamed, 30, a UK resident, said MI5 had prolonged his detention and torture while he was being held in Morocco. |
| The MI5 agent who questioned him has denied threatening or putting any pressure on Mr Mohamed. | The MI5 agent who questioned him has denied threatening or putting any pressure on Mr Mohamed. |
| 'Seriousness and sensitivity' | 'Seriousness and sensitivity' |
| Ethiopian-born Mr Mohamed says he was tortured while in US custody in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan, with the complicity of MI5. | Ethiopian-born Mr Mohamed says he was tortured while in US custody in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan, with the complicity of MI5. |
| He says that in Morocco in 2002, he was mistreated by local officers who asked him questions supplied by British intelligence. | He says that in Morocco in 2002, he was mistreated by local officers who asked him questions supplied by British intelligence. |
| Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent This is the first time in living memory that anyone can remember the police being asked to investigate MI5, the Security Service. As the two organisations work side-by-side on the front line of Britain's fight against terrorism it is an extraordinary and, for some, uncomfortable situation. The initial investigation is likely to focus on the MI5 officer known in court documents as "Witness B". This is the man sent out by Whitehall to Pakistan to question Binyam Mohamed in 2002. Did he know that Mr Mohamed was being abused in custody? Did MI5 subsequently provide questions and other material - as Mr Mohammed's lawyers allege - to the CIA, knowing that he was being subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment? When Mr Mohamed was being held and allegedly abused in Morocco, did MI5 and the wider British Government press the Americans sufficiently as to where he was and under what conditions? If the Americans would not provide that information, then should MI5 have continued to cooperate with the CIA's investigation of Mr Mohamed? Given the British Government's avowed intolerance of torture, these are all questions likely to be raised by the pending police investigation. They are also questions which will probably overshadow any lingering suspicions over what exactly Mr Mohammed was doing in Afghanistan in 2001 or why he was arrested carrying a false passport. | |
| Mr Mohamed returned to the UK in February 2009 after seven years in custody - four of which were spent in the US camp at Guantanamo Bay. | Mr Mohamed returned to the UK in February 2009 after seven years in custody - four of which were spent in the US camp at Guantanamo Bay. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the investigation would focus on an MI5 officer known as Witness B, who travelled to Karachi in 2002 to question Mr Mohamed. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the investigation would focus on an MI5 officer known as Witness B, who travelled to Karachi in 2002 to question Mr Mohamed. |
| It is alleged that Witness B told Mr Mohamed that his only way out of Pakistani custody was to co-operate fully, and that the officer knew to where Mr Mohamed would be subsequently rendered. | It is alleged that Witness B told Mr Mohamed that his only way out of Pakistani custody was to co-operate fully, and that the officer knew to where Mr Mohamed would be subsequently rendered. |
| Baroness Scotland said she had invited the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, to begin an inquiry. | Baroness Scotland said she had invited the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, to begin an inquiry. |
| "I have expressed to the commissioner the hope that the investigation can be taken forward as expeditiously as possible given the seriousness and sensitivity of the issues involved," she said. | "I have expressed to the commissioner the hope that the investigation can be taken forward as expeditiously as possible given the seriousness and sensitivity of the issues involved," she said. |
| "The conduct of the investigation will be a matter for the police, with advice from the Crown Prosecution Service." | "The conduct of the investigation will be a matter for the police, with advice from the Crown Prosecution Service." |
| The allegations were referred to law officers in 2008 by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. | The allegations were referred to law officers in 2008 by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. |
| In a statement, she said the government and the security services would co-operate fully with the police if asked. | In a statement, she said the government and the security services would co-operate fully with the police if asked. |
| "Wherever allegations of wrongdoing are made, they are taken seriously," Ms Smith added. | "Wherever allegations of wrongdoing are made, they are taken seriously," Ms Smith added. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted that the UK did not tolerate torture, but said the security services had his unequivocal support. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted that the UK did not tolerate torture, but said the security services had his unequivocal support. |
| "I want to stand up for our security services because they cannot stand up for themselves," Mr Brown added. | "I want to stand up for our security services because they cannot stand up for themselves," Mr Brown added. |
| But Zachary Katznelson, the legal director of charity Reprieve, whose lawyers represent Mr Mohamed, said he was concerned that crucial evidence would be kept from the inquiry. | But Zachary Katznelson, the legal director of charity Reprieve, whose lawyers represent Mr Mohamed, said he was concerned that crucial evidence would be kept from the inquiry. |
| "Many of the documents related to Mr Mohamed's treatment have been classified either in the US or the UK and unless the police have access to all of them, they will only see one tiny piece of the picture," he added. | "Many of the documents related to Mr Mohamed's treatment have been classified either in the US or the UK and unless the police have access to all of them, they will only see one tiny piece of the picture," he added. |
| Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve said Mr Mohamed's claims raised broader concerns. | Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve said Mr Mohamed's claims raised broader concerns. |
| I understand that ministers are concerned there could be more allegations that British agents have been complicit in torture BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Torture claims probe: Reaction Attorney General's statement | |
| "It goes to the entire issue of the involvement of the British security services with the activities of others who may have committed torture not just on him but on other people as well," Mr Grieve added. | "It goes to the entire issue of the involvement of the British security services with the activities of others who may have committed torture not just on him but on other people as well," Mr Grieve added. |
| Former shadow home secretary David Davis said there was "a very serious case to answer". | Former shadow home secretary David Davis said there was "a very serious case to answer". |
| He added: "It is vital that this investigation does not simply select a low-ranking MI5 officer as a scapegoat, but establishes where the responsibility for approving these actions originated, no matter how high they go." | He added: "It is vital that this investigation does not simply select a low-ranking MI5 officer as a scapegoat, but establishes where the responsibility for approving these actions originated, no matter how high they go." |
| 'Due course' | 'Due course' |
| Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey welcomed the announcement. | Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey welcomed the announcement. |
| But he warned that the "wider question of the government's policy on rendition and torture throughout the Bush and Blair years will remain unanswered" until a full judicial inquiry was held. | But he warned that the "wider question of the government's policy on rendition and torture throughout the Bush and Blair years will remain unanswered" until a full judicial inquiry was held. |
| Amnesty International UK's head of policy and government affairs Jeremy Croft said the decision was just a "first step". | Amnesty International UK's head of policy and government affairs Jeremy Croft said the decision was just a "first step". |
| "We still need an independent inquiry with the powers to unearth any wrongdoing by UK officials during the 'war on terror'," he added. | "We still need an independent inquiry with the powers to unearth any wrongdoing by UK officials during the 'war on terror'," he added. |
| Moazzam Begg, a British former Guantanamo Bay inmate, said he had spent several days with Mr Mohamed since the end of his "terrible ordeal". | Moazzam Begg, a British former Guantanamo Bay inmate, said he had spent several days with Mr Mohamed since the end of his "terrible ordeal". |
| Mr Begg added: "It's fantastic news. | Mr Begg added: "It's fantastic news. |
| "We've been saying this for so many years now - that the MI5 were present at every leg of my journey during my extraordinary rendition, that included in Afghanistan, in Pakistan and Guantanamo Bay." | "We've been saying this for so many years now - that the MI5 were present at every leg of my journey during my extraordinary rendition, that included in Afghanistan, in Pakistan and Guantanamo Bay." |
| Scotland Yard confirmed it had been asked to begin an investigation. | Scotland Yard confirmed it had been asked to begin an investigation. |
| A spokesman added: "A decision on how this will be taken forward will be made in due course." | A spokesman added: "A decision on how this will be taken forward will be made in due course." |
| Mr Mohamed arrived in the UK in 1994 and sought asylum on the basis of his family's opposition to the Ethiopian government. | Mr Mohamed arrived in the UK in 1994 and sought asylum on the basis of his family's opposition to the Ethiopian government. |
| His application was rejected, but in 2000 he was given exceptional leave to remain in the UK for four years. | His application was rejected, but in 2000 he was given exceptional leave to remain in the UK for four years. |