Ex-Mersey doctor denies terror links

Jul 30 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A FORMER Merseyside doctor accused of links to failed bomb attacks in the UK said he was relieved to have been cleared and denied any terrorist links.

Indian-born Mohammed Haneef, who formerly worked at Halton Hospital in Cheshire, said he felt “great . . . my Lord has restored my honour back to me, that I am innocent.”

In an emotional interview after being released by police in Australia, he reiterated he had no knowledge of his relatives’ alleged involvement in a failed British attack.

Three people have been charged over the attempted bombings in the UK, including Dr Haneef’s second cousin, Sabeel Ahmed, who was arrested in Liverpool and had also worked at Halton Hospital.

Dr Haneef, 27, spent nearly four weeks in custody in a case that has led to criticism of authorities in Australia where charges against him were dropped on Friday.

Earlier, the country's top police officer and one of its ministers defended their handling of the matter.

In his first public interview, broadcast on Australia's Channel Nine TV, Dr Haneef was asked whether he had ever been a supporter of a terrorist organisation.

He replied: “No, it's not in my nature to ever support or involve in such activities at all.

“I never imagined, even in the remotest corner of my brain, that I would be labelled with such a defaming thing.”

Dr Haneef was freed from custody on Friday after Australia’s chief prosecutor admitted “a mistake had been made.”

He flew from Brisbane to Bangkok yesterday and was scheduled to leave later in the day for Bangalore, in southern India, to be reunited with his family.

He was arrested when he tried to make the same trip earlier in July.

Prosecutors had claimed that the doctor's mobile phone SIM card had been found in the burning car that crashed into Glasgow international airport on June 30.

But it later emerged the card had actually been found in a flat in Liverpool, where his second cousin, Sabeel Ahmed, lived.

Australia's most senior police officer, Commissioner Mick Keelty, said UK police had provided inaccurate information.

“Haneef attempted to leave the country. If we had let him go, we would have been accused of letting a terrorist escape our shores,” he said.

The charges against Dr Haneef were dropped after Australia's chief prosecutor said there had been mistakes made in the investigation, and because of a lack of evidence.

Calls have been made for disciplinary action to be taken against Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews, who said he stood by his decision to cancel the doctor’s working visa, despite the charge being dropped.

Mr Andrews said he still harboured suspicions against the Indian doctor.

The fact that Dr Haneef had decided to leave the country “actually heightens rather than lessens my suspicion,” he said.

Dr Haneef’s lawyers described the minister’s comments as “beyond bizarre.”

They said they wanted his name cleared completely, and have demanded the restoration of his work visa so that he can return to live and work in Australia. This was withdrawn on the grounds that Dr Haneef was said to be of unsuitable character.

Dr Haneef’s lawyer, Peter Russo, said his client had left Australia voluntarily and was not deported.

Dr Haneef had been working at the Gold Coast Hospital, in Queensland, when he was detained trying to board a flight to India on July 2.

It came days after two cars containing petrol, gas cylinders and nails were discovered in London, and a burning car was driven into Glasgow airport.

Sabeel Ahmed, 26, has been charged with withholding information that could have prevented an act of terrorism. Sabeel Ahmed was the recipient of Haneef’s SIM card.

Ahmed’s brother, Kafeel Ahmed, is believed to have set himself ablaze after crashing an explosives-laden Jeep into Glasgow Airport and remains in hospital with critical burns.

alanweston