Pakistani court orders release of British bombing suspect
(15 Nov 2007) 1. Wide Rashid Rauf, British terror suspect, walking with police escort into Rawalpindi magistrates court in handcuffs 2. Close of Rauf wearing traditional Pakistani robes 3. Mid of Rauf waiting inside court 4. Journalists comparing notes 5. Various of Rauf leaving and being escorted into police van, police van drives off STORYLINE: An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan ordered the release of a British terror suspect on Thursday, the man's lawyer said. Rashid Rauf, a British Muslim of Pakistani origin, is suspected of involvement in an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners and is likely to be deported to Britain, said the lawyer. A court in Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad, ordered his Rauf's release after the prosecution withdrew the case against him, attorney Hashmat Habib said. A court official confirmed the lawyer's account. Despite the court order, Rauf was still being held at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi late Thursday, ahead of the likely transfer to Britain, Habib said. Pakistani police arrested Rauf in August 2006 on a tip from their British counterparts and have described him as a key suspect in an alleged terror plot to blow up jetliners flying from Britain to the United States which prompted a massive security alert at airports in the summer. It led to new restrictions on hand baggage. Rauf had been charged in Pakistan with having chemicals which could be used in making explosives and carrying forged travel documents. Habib said he had already filed a petition with a higher court seeking an order to block Rauf's deportation. Britain had asked Pakistan to extradite Rauf in connection with a 2002 murder inquiry in Britain that is separate from the alleged terrorism plot. Rauf's brother, Tayib Rauf, was one of 25 people arrested in Britain in connection with the alleged airline scheme, but was later released. Fifteen people in Britain have been charged in the case. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
