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Ex-Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg arrested by terror police | Ex-Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg arrested by terror police |
(about 2 hours 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." |
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 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 Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan 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 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, who is now a director of campaign group Cage which helps the families of people who have been detained, has never been charged with an offence. | He was released in January 2005 with three other British citizens and returned to the UK. Mr Begg, who is now a director of campaign group Cage which helps the families of people who have been detained, has never been charged with an offence. |
He has always maintained that he was only involved in charity work and has never been involved in any kind of terrorist activity. | |
Our correspondent added that the arrests were part of a wider pattern and an increasing focus on Syria - there were 16 such arrests in January alone compared with 24 in the whole of last year. | Our correspondent added that the arrests were part of a wider pattern and an increasing focus on Syria - there were 16 such arrests in January alone compared with 24 in the whole of last year. |
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 police are searching their three homes and vehicles and electronic equipment have been taken away for forensic analysis, West Midlands Police said. | Counter-terrorism police are searching their three homes and vehicles and electronic equipment have been taken away for forensic analysis, West Midlands Police said. |