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| Moazzam Begg released after terror charges dropped | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg has walked free from Belmarsh prison in south London. | |
| The 46-year-old's release comes after seven terrorism-related charges against him were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. | |
| The charges were connected to the conflict in Syria and included one that he attended a terrorist training camp. | |
| Mr Begg, from Birmingham, was arrested along with three others in February this year. | |
| Insufficient evidence | Insufficient evidence |
| Mr Begg's trial was due to start on Monday, following a hearing at which he had pleaded not guilty to all the charges. | Mr Begg's trial was due to start on Monday, following a hearing at which he had pleaded not guilty to all the charges. |
| But at a pre-trial review on Wednesday morning lasting just five minutes prosecution lawyers told the court that the CPS had decided there was insufficient evidence to continue with the prosecution. | But at a pre-trial review on Wednesday morning lasting just five minutes prosecution lawyers told the court that the CPS had decided there was insufficient evidence to continue with the prosecution. |
| Mr Begg, was appearing via video link from Belmarsh. He spoke only to confirm his name and made no reaction when the judge, Mr Justice Wilkie, formally acquitted him of all charges. | |
| He had been charged with attending a terrorist training camp in Syria between 9 October 2012 and 9 April 2013. | He had been charged with attending a terrorist training camp in Syria between 9 October 2012 and 9 April 2013. |
| He was also accused of possessing documents for a purpose connected to terrorism and terrorist funding. | He was also accused of possessing documents for a purpose connected to terrorism and terrorist funding. |
| Analysis - Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent: | Analysis - Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent: |
| West Midlands assistant chief constable Marcus Beale walked out of the Old Bailey and told journalists that his force accepted that Moazzam Begg was an innocent man. | |
| Be in no doubt, this result is a catastrophic blow to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service and other agencies who had sought to pursue the former Guantanamo Bay detainee. | Be in no doubt, this result is a catastrophic blow to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service and other agencies who had sought to pursue the former Guantanamo Bay detainee. |
| There are many people in positions of authority who do not like Moazzam Begg - but he has been a tireless campaigner for what he says have been injustices in the "war on terror". | There are many people in positions of authority who do not like Moazzam Begg - but he has been a tireless campaigner for what he says have been injustices in the "war on terror". |
| This entire affair has therefore damaged relations between the British security services and some Muslim communities. Moazzam Begg's supporters have said for months that he did nothing wrong when he went to Syria. They will feel vindicated by today's formal acquittal. | This entire affair has therefore damaged relations between the British security services and some Muslim communities. Moazzam Begg's supporters have said for months that he did nothing wrong when he went to Syria. They will feel vindicated by today's formal acquittal. |
| In a statement, West Midlands Police said new evidence had come to light which had "a significant impact on key pieces of evidence that underpinned the prosecution's case". | In a statement, West Midlands Police said new evidence had come to light which had "a significant impact on key pieces of evidence that underpinned the prosecution's case". |
| 'Unfair and inappropriate' | 'Unfair and inappropriate' |
| "Police and lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the new material, previously not known to the police investigation, and concluded there was no longer a realistic prospect of gaining a conviction." | "Police and lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the new material, previously not known to the police investigation, and concluded there was no longer a realistic prospect of gaining a conviction." |
| Assistant chief constable Marcus Beale said: "I understand this is going to raise many questions. | Assistant chief constable Marcus Beale said: "I understand this is going to raise many questions. |
| "However, explaining what this newly revealed information is would mean discussing other aspects of the case which would be unfair and inappropriate as they are no longer going to be tested in court." | "However, explaining what this newly revealed information is would mean discussing other aspects of the case which would be unfair and inappropriate as they are no longer going to be tested in court." |
| He added: "From the beginning this case has challenged the relationship between West Midlands Police and some of the communities we serve. | He added: "From the beginning this case has challenged the relationship between West Midlands Police and some of the communities we serve. |
| "I would like to reassure them and Mr Begg that at every stage of this investigation my officers acted in the best interests of the public and of justice." | "I would like to reassure them and Mr Begg that at every stage of this investigation my officers acted in the best interests of the public and of justice." |
| The BBC's June Kelly said that this had been "a controversial case from the start". | The BBC's June Kelly said that this had been "a controversial case from the start". |
| "Moazzam Begg is the most high-profile of all the arrests that have taken place in relation to alleged terrorism in Syria," she said. "Since his release from Guantanamo Bay, he's been a vocal commentator, campaigner and activist. | "Moazzam Begg is the most high-profile of all the arrests that have taken place in relation to alleged terrorism in Syria," she said. "Since his release from Guantanamo Bay, he's been a vocal commentator, campaigner and activist. |
| "His supporters say he made no secret of the fact that he had been to Syria." | "His supporters say he made no secret of the fact that he had been to Syria." |
| 'Defamed and vilified' | 'Defamed and vilified' |
| Asim Qureshi, research director of campaign group Cage, where Mr Begg works as an outreach director, said: "This has been a testing time for Moazzam, his family and the Muslim community. | Asim Qureshi, research director of campaign group Cage, where Mr Begg works as an outreach director, said: "This has been a testing time for Moazzam, his family and the Muslim community. |
| "The criminalisation of virtually any Muslim that has been to Syria has increased in intensity. | "The criminalisation of virtually any Muslim that has been to Syria has increased in intensity. |
| "We hope that Moazzam's release is a sign that the government are now willing to adopt a more measured strategy in relation to anti-terrorism policy and avoid the attempt to criminalise all dissent and crush any organisation that stands up for the rule of law and justice." | "We hope that Moazzam's release is a sign that the government are now willing to adopt a more measured strategy in relation to anti-terrorism policy and avoid the attempt to criminalise all dissent and crush any organisation that stands up for the rule of law and justice." |
| Mr Begg was held in the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for nearly three years. He had been detained in Pakistan in January 2002 and taken to Bagram internment centre in Afghanistan, where he was held for about a year before being transferred to Guantanamo. | Mr Begg was held in the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for nearly three years. He had been detained in Pakistan in January 2002 and taken to Bagram internment centre in Afghanistan, where he was held for about a year before being transferred to Guantanamo. |
| He was not charged with any offence while in US custody. | He was not charged with any offence while in US custody. |