Guantanamo four released without charge
The four British men returned from Guantanamo Bay have been released by police without charge.
Britons Moazzam Begg, Martin Mubanga, Feroz Abbasi and Richard Belmar left Paddington Green police station in London on Wednesday night.
Anti-terrorist officers had questioned the men for almost 28 hours under the provisions of section 41 of the terrorism Act 2000.
That section of the law refers to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Under the law, police could have detained them for up to two weeks.
After arriving in the UK from the US military base in Cuba on Tuesday, where the men were imprisoned without charge for the last three years, they were immediately escorted away to the high-security police station.
The four – three of whom are from London with Mr Begg from Birmingham – have been accused by US authorities of aiding and abetting Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan.
Following their release at 21:00 GMT last night, the four were expected to meet with family members.
Lawyers for the men said the families were “desperate” to be reunited with their kin.
Neil Durkin of Amnesty International UK said the men should not have been held a minute longer than necessary.
Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: “While it is welcome news that the police have quickly completed their inquiries, this move highlights yet again the injustice of holding these men captive for the last three years.”
