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UK court frees key terror suspect on bail
A London court on Tuesday released on bail an Algerian pilot named by the United States as a key suspect over the September 11 terror attacks, dealing a blow to US investigators.
A London court on Tuesday released on bail an Algerian pilot named by the United States as a key suspect over the September 11 terror attacks, dealing a blow to US investigators.
Lotfi Raissi, 27, was freed on conditional bail until March 28 after Judge Timothy Workman said he did not believe the long-threatened terrorist charges would be filed "in the near future."
Raissi was arrested near London on September 21 on suspicion of having helped train some of the militants who hijacked four US airliners and crashed three of them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
He wept as the decision was announced and his family in the viewing gallery applauded.
Raissi's French wife Sonia, speaking after Workman's decision, said justice had been done.
"From the beginning we said Lotfi has nothing to do with all this. We've said it again and again but at last, justice has been done."
"We've been waiting five months and my message to the FBI is 'you arrested him for terrorism, so why do you want to extradite him for these ridiculous, minor charges?'"
"There is something not clear and from the beginning they have not been fair. They should drop the charges and say sorry to him."
After Raissi was arrested on September 21, prosecutors claimed he had been an instructor for four of the 19 hijackers involved in the suicide plane attacks in New York and Washington.
That has since been reduced to an alleged link with just one of them, Hani Hanjour, who crashed his plane into the Pentagon outside Washington.
But despite continually insisting that more serious charges are to be laid linking him to September 11, prosecutors have so far only offered two charges, that he lied in his application for a US pilot's licence -- offences which technically are still enough for extradition.
"I accept the investigation into this is long and painstaking," Workman said.
"However on the reports made to me today on behalf of the American government, I am satisfied there is no likelihood of terrroism charges being proferred against him in the near future."
Raissi was released on bail of 10,000 pounds (14,200 dollars) and ordered to surrender his passport, live at an agreed address and not apply for foreign travel documents.
Workman had already warned the prosecution last month to come up with more evidence or he would consider granting bail.
Raissi's brother Mohamed afterwards demanded an apology from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"We are asking them to tell the world that this man is innocent. Because they have destroyed his life. They destroyed his dreams."
Earlier, prosecutor James Lewis said the US government "does not at present attempt to seek extradition on Raissi on terrorism charges."
He had opposed bail for Raissi, insisting he continued to be a suspect in the investigation into the September 11 attacks, "an atrocity that shocked the civilised world," as well as other unspecified terrorist activities in the United States.
Raissi's mother Rabea thanked Workman "for stopping this scandal and taking the right decision."
"My son has nothing to do with all that (the September 11 attacks). We will fight to the end," she said.
"Our son has done nothing. He is very intelligent and he has always liked flying. He is a victim of his religion and nationality," she said.
Bureau Report
Lotfi Raissi, 27, was freed on conditional bail until March 28 after Judge Timothy Workman said he did not believe the long-threatened terrorist charges would be filed "in the near future."
Raissi was arrested near London on September 21 on suspicion of having helped train some of the militants who hijacked four US airliners and crashed three of them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
He wept as the decision was announced and his family in the viewing gallery applauded.
Raissi's French wife Sonia, speaking after Workman's decision, said justice had been done.
"From the beginning we said Lotfi has nothing to do with all this. We've said it again and again but at last, justice has been done."
"We've been waiting five months and my message to the FBI is 'you arrested him for terrorism, so why do you want to extradite him for these ridiculous, minor charges?'"
"There is something not clear and from the beginning they have not been fair. They should drop the charges and say sorry to him."
After Raissi was arrested on September 21, prosecutors claimed he had been an instructor for four of the 19 hijackers involved in the suicide plane attacks in New York and Washington.
That has since been reduced to an alleged link with just one of them, Hani Hanjour, who crashed his plane into the Pentagon outside Washington.
But despite continually insisting that more serious charges are to be laid linking him to September 11, prosecutors have so far only offered two charges, that he lied in his application for a US pilot's licence -- offences which technically are still enough for extradition.
"I accept the investigation into this is long and painstaking," Workman said.
"However on the reports made to me today on behalf of the American government, I am satisfied there is no likelihood of terrroism charges being proferred against him in the near future."
Raissi was released on bail of 10,000 pounds (14,200 dollars) and ordered to surrender his passport, live at an agreed address and not apply for foreign travel documents.
Workman had already warned the prosecution last month to come up with more evidence or he would consider granting bail.
Raissi's brother Mohamed afterwards demanded an apology from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"We are asking them to tell the world that this man is innocent. Because they have destroyed his life. They destroyed his dreams."
Earlier, prosecutor James Lewis said the US government "does not at present attempt to seek extradition on Raissi on terrorism charges."
He had opposed bail for Raissi, insisting he continued to be a suspect in the investigation into the September 11 attacks, "an atrocity that shocked the civilised world," as well as other unspecified terrorist activities in the United States.
Raissi's mother Rabea thanked Workman "for stopping this scandal and taking the right decision."
"My son has nothing to do with all that (the September 11 attacks). We will fight to the end," she said.
"Our son has done nothing. He is very intelligent and he has always liked flying. He is a victim of his religion and nationality," she said.
Bureau Report