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Ex-Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg arrested by terror police | Ex-Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg arrested by terror police |
(35 minutes later) | |
Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg is among four people who have been arrested on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences, police have said. | Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg is among four people who have been arrested on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences, police have said. |
Mr Begg, 45, who was held by the US authorities for almost three years, was arrested earlier with two other men and a woman in the West Midlands. | Mr Begg, 45, who was held by the US authorities for almost three years, was arrested earlier with two other men and a woman in the West Midlands. |
He was detained on suspicion of attending a terrorist training camp and facilitating terrorism overseas. | He was detained on suspicion of attending a terrorist training camp and facilitating terrorism overseas. |
West Midlands police said naming Mr Begg did "not imply any guilt". | West Midlands police said naming Mr Begg did "not imply any guilt". |
A spokeswoman added: "We can confirm that Moazzam Begg was arrested this morning. We are confirming this name as a result of the anticipated high public interest." | A spokeswoman added: "We can confirm that Moazzam Begg was arrested this morning. We are confirming this name as a result of the anticipated high public interest." |
Electronic equipment | Electronic equipment |
Mr Begg was arrested in Hall Green in Birmingham. The other people arrested - a 36-year-old man from Shirley, a 44-year-old woman and her son, 20, both from Sparkhill - are being held on suspicion of facilitating terrorism overseas. | |
Mr Begg, a British citizen originally from Birmingham, moved to Afghanistan with his family in 2001 before moving to Pakistan in 2002 when the war started. | Mr Begg, a British citizen originally from Birmingham, moved to Afghanistan with his family in 2001 before moving to Pakistan in 2002 when the war started. |
He was arrested in Islamabad in January 2002 and taken to Bagram internment centre in Afghanistan for about a year before being transferred to the Guantanamo Bay US detention camp in Cuba. | |
He was released in January 2005 with three other British citizens and returned to the UK. Mr Begg has never been charged with an offence. | |
BBC home affairs correspondent June Kelly said in recent years Mr Begg had been involved in an organisation called Cage, which helps families of people who have been detained. | BBC home affairs correspondent June Kelly said in recent years Mr Begg had been involved in an organisation called Cage, which helps families of people who have been detained. |
She also said that in recent weeks there had been a big increase in the number of people being held by police in operations related to Syria. | She also said that in recent weeks there had been a big increase in the number of people being held by police in operations related to Syria. |
Police say all four people arrested on Tuesday morning are being held at a police station in the West Midlands. Det Supt Shaun Edwards said the four arrests were connected. | Police say all four people arrested on Tuesday morning are being held at a police station in the West Midlands. Det Supt Shaun Edwards said the four arrests were connected. |
He said: "They were pre-planned and intelligence-led. There was no immediate risk to public safety." | He said: "They were pre-planned and intelligence-led. There was no immediate risk to public safety." |
Counter-terrorism are searching their three homes and vehicles and electronic equipment have been taken away for forensic analysis, West Midlands Police said. | Counter-terrorism are searching their three homes and vehicles and electronic equipment have been taken away for forensic analysis, West Midlands Police said. |