Britain deporting terror suspects | April 21, 2009
LONDON, April 21 (UPI) -- Nine men questioned in a terrorist plot investigation in Britain will not be charged and instead deported to Pakistan, police say.
Two others among those detained April 8 in Operation Pathway were still being questioned, while one other was released earlier, The Times Online reported Tuesday.
The men, ages 22-38, are Pakistani citizens who were in Britain on student visas. Police turned them over to immigration authorities for deportation on national security grounds, The Times said.
An attorney for three of the men said their deportation orders would be challenged and called for an independent investigation off the matter.
"Our clients have no criminal history, they were here lawfully on student visas and all were pursuing their studies and working part-time," Mohammed Ayub said. "They are neither extremists nor terrorists. Their arrest and detention has been a serious breach of their human rights. As a minimum they are entitled to an unreserved apology."
The nine men can contest deportation through the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.