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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Terror suspect Babar Ahmad 'taunted over God' by police | Terror suspect Babar Ahmad 'taunted over God' by police |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A terrorist suspect was forced into a praying position and asked "where is your God now?" during arrest at his south London home, a court has heard. | A terrorist suspect was forced into a praying position and asked "where is your God now?" during arrest at his south London home, a court has heard. |
| Four Metropolitan Police officers allegedly beat up and mocked Babar Ahmad in a raid in Tooting in 2003. | Four Metropolitan Police officers allegedly beat up and mocked Babar Ahmad in a raid in Tooting in 2003. |
| The atmosphere was "very intimidating", Mr Ahmad told Southwark Crown Court . | The atmosphere was "very intimidating", Mr Ahmad told Southwark Crown Court . |
| Pc Nigel Cowley, 34, Det Con John Donohue, 37, Pc Roderick James-Bowen, 40, and Pc Mark Jones, 43, all deny assault occasioning actual bodily harm. | Pc Nigel Cowley, 34, Det Con John Donohue, 37, Pc Roderick James-Bowen, 40, and Pc Mark Jones, 43, all deny assault occasioning actual bodily harm. |
| Police smashed their way into Mr Ahmad's semi-detached property in Fountain Road, Tooting, at about 0500 on 2 December 2003. | Police smashed their way into Mr Ahmad's semi-detached property in Fountain Road, Tooting, at about 0500 on 2 December 2003. |
| 'Completely compliant' | 'Completely compliant' |
| Mr Ahmad, 37, told the court: "Initially I was in shock, confusion and panic. I didn't know what had happened, I didn't have the foggiest idea. | Mr Ahmad, 37, told the court: "Initially I was in shock, confusion and panic. I didn't know what had happened, I didn't have the foggiest idea. |
| "When I saw the police I felt somewhat reassured. I thought 'it's the police, it's only the police, it's not a car crash or a robber'." | "When I saw the police I felt somewhat reassured. I thought 'it's the police, it's only the police, it's not a car crash or a robber'." |
| Mr Ahmad said officers in full riot gear ran up the stairs and despite him standing passively with his hands up he was thrown head first into a window. | Mr Ahmad said officers in full riot gear ran up the stairs and despite him standing passively with his hands up he was thrown head first into a window. |
| The officers then beat him while shouting "vulgar abuse and language", he told the jury. | The officers then beat him while shouting "vulgar abuse and language", he told the jury. |
| Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, asked the witness if he had fought or struggled. | Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, asked the witness if he had fought or struggled. |
| Mr Ahmad replied: "I was completely compliant because I had made my mind up when they came towards me I was going to co-operate and reassure them they had nothing to fear from me whatsoever." | Mr Ahmad replied: "I was completely compliant because I had made my mind up when they came towards me I was going to co-operate and reassure them they had nothing to fear from me whatsoever." |
| He added: "At no point did I struggle or make it difficult for them. At no point did I say anything to them other than 'can you stop hitting me?'. I didn't make it hard for them or provoke them whatsoever." | He added: "At no point did I struggle or make it difficult for them. At no point did I say anything to them other than 'can you stop hitting me?'. I didn't make it hard for them or provoke them whatsoever." |
| 'Screaming in pain' | 'Screaming in pain' |
| Mr Ahmad said his wife Uzma Qureshi was removed from the bedroom and the assault continued. | Mr Ahmad said his wife Uzma Qureshi was removed from the bedroom and the assault continued. |
| He said he was handcuffed with his arms behind his back and read his rights before the cuffs were loosened and repeatedly pulled up his arms. | He said he was handcuffed with his arms behind his back and read his rights before the cuffs were loosened and repeatedly pulled up his arms. |
| "I started screaming in pain. It was extremely painful. The metal went straight down the bone. It was like someone held a flame to my wrists," he told the court. | "I started screaming in pain. It was extremely painful. The metal went straight down the bone. It was like someone held a flame to my wrists," he told the court. |
| Mr Ahmad said officers stamped on his bare feet with their steel toe-capped boots and kneed his right thigh before he was taken downstairs to his prayer room. | Mr Ahmad said officers stamped on his bare feet with their steel toe-capped boots and kneed his right thigh before he was taken downstairs to his prayer room. |
| The witness told the court that officers touched his "private parts" when he was put in a praying position and mocked his faith. | The witness told the court that officers touched his "private parts" when he was put in a praying position and mocked his faith. |
| He said: "One of the officers said 'you are in prayer now'. All the others began to laugh and it was like they were laughing at me. | He said: "One of the officers said 'you are in prayer now'. All the others began to laugh and it was like they were laughing at me. |
| "One said 'where is your God now?'. And another said 'pray to him'. | "One said 'where is your God now?'. And another said 'pray to him'. |
| "After that, the officers were laughing and I can't remember details of what was said but it was a very intimidating atmosphere. | "After that, the officers were laughing and I can't remember details of what was said but it was a very intimidating atmosphere. |
| "I had just been beaten and I was on the floor and they were laughing and there were jibes." | "I had just been beaten and I was on the floor and they were laughing and there were jibes." |
| Extradition fight | Extradition fight |
| The suspect was under surveillance by MI5 at the time of the raid, and a recording was played to the jury but the contents were largely inaudible. | The suspect was under surveillance by MI5 at the time of the raid, and a recording was played to the jury but the contents were largely inaudible. |
| Mr Laidlaw has told jurors that delays in the trial - which has started more than seven years after the alleged assault - were caused by internal investigations, obtaining medical opinions and case reviews. | Mr Laidlaw has told jurors that delays in the trial - which has started more than seven years after the alleged assault - were caused by internal investigations, obtaining medical opinions and case reviews. |
| The four accused officers were at the time part of the Territorial Support Group, which assisted the Anti-Terrorist Branch in the raid. | The four accused officers were at the time part of the Territorial Support Group, which assisted the Anti-Terrorist Branch in the raid. |
| Mr Ahmad, who was suspected to be a jihadist with training as a terrorist, was released without charge after six days. | Mr Ahmad, who was suspected to be a jihadist with training as a terrorist, was released without charge after six days. |
| He is currently in custody awaiting extradition to the US for alleged terrorism offences. He has been fighting that decision since 2004. | He is currently in custody awaiting extradition to the US for alleged terrorism offences. He has been fighting that decision since 2004. |
| The jury has been told that the British courts had granted the extradition, but Mr Ahmad appealed and the case has not yet been resolved. | The jury has been told that the British courts had granted the extradition, but Mr Ahmad appealed and the case has not yet been resolved. |
| Mr Ahmad will be cross examined on Monday. |