(UK) Press Association : British jet-plot suspect escapes

British jet-plot suspect escapes

December 15, 2007

Rashid Rauf, a British suspect in an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners, escaped from police custody in Pakistan, officials said.

Rauf, whom Pakistan is trying to send to Britain, went missing after appearing in court in the capital, Islamabad, said city police official Khalid Pervez.

Rauf has been described as a key suspect in an alleged plot to blow up jets flying from Britain to the United States which prompted a major security alert at airports worldwide and increased restrictions on items being carried on board

Police teams were searching for Rauf, who Pervez said had managed to open his handcuffs and evade two police guards who were taking him back to jail in the nearby city of Rawalpindi. "The two policemen have been taken into custody for negligence."

Rauf's father, Abdul Rauf, said at his home in Birmingham: "I don't know anything -- I'm shocked."

Rauf, who also has a Pakistani passport, was arrested by Pakistani intelligence agents in August after a tip from their British counterparts.

At the time, Pakistan identified him as a key suspect in the alleged terror plot, sparking a security alert in Britain that saw mass cancellations of flights to and from Heathrow Airport for several days in August and increased restrictions.

However, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court dropped terrorism charges against Rauf on December 13 and held him accountable only for possessing bomb-making materials and living in Pakistan without valid documents.

Later, a higher court -- acting on an appeal by Pakistani authorities -- suspended the anti-terrorism court's ruling until January 15. A judge then extended his detention until January 19. His lawyer, Hashmat Habib, said his client had been falsely implicated and would prove his innocence.

Rauf arrived in Pakistan soon after his uncle was stabbed to death in 2002. Pakistan has said British authorities had asked Pakistan to extradite Rauf in connection with a murder inquiry. Pakistan and Britain do not have an extradition treaty.