Terror charges dropped against ex-Liverpool doctor in Australia

Jul 27 2007

Mohammed Haneef, who can not be fully identified for legal reasons, worked as a locum at Halton General Hospital, in 2005 _158

TERROR charges have been dropped against a Liverpool doctor today who was accused of supporting the failed bomb attack on London and Glasgow Airport.

Mohammed Haneef, 27, who is being held in Australia, had been accused of providing support to a terrorist organisation for giving his mobile phone SIM card to his second cousin, Sabeel Ahmed, who was arrested on Lime Street in connection with the plot.

However the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions Damian Bugg withdrew the charge in Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning. He told reporters in Canberra that he withdrew the charges because he was satisfied “there was no reasonable prospect of conviction”.

Haneef has been held in Brisbane when he was arrested at the international airport as he was about to fly to India.

Haneef practised as a doctor at Halton Hospital, before travelling to Australia to work on the Gold Coast. He was arrested on July 3 at Brisbane Airport.

A court ordered Haneef’s release on bail last week but immigration minister Kevin Andrews kept him in prison by cancelling his visa on character grounds, based on information provided by police.

It was not immediately clear whether Haneef would be deported from Australia or allowed to remain and appeal against the immigration minister’s decision.

But federal police commissioner Mick Keelty said he would not revise his advice to the minister, saying “the grounds on which the AFP provided advice to the minister for immigration have not changed”.

Haneef's cousin Ahmed, who also worked at Halton Hospital in 2005 and was arrested on Lime Street on July 1. He is still being held after being charged with not disclosing information that could have helped police arrest a suspected terrorist.

Meanwhile doctors Bilal Abdullah, 27, and Mohammed Asha, 26, who are accused of conspiracy to cause explosions, are due to appear at the Old Bailey.