Storm over terror laws as suspect goes on run

Labour MP Pat McFadden said the Coalition’s move to put in place reduced powers was “complacent and dangerous”.

The criticism came after suspected terrorist Ibrahim Magag went on the run on Boxing Day.

Magag, 28, absconded from a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (Tpims) notice after failing to meet his overnight residence condition, police said.

He was last seen in the Camden area of north London on the same day at 5.20pm. An anonymity order imposed by a court was lifted to allow a public appeal.

Mr McFadden said the Government had put the public at greater risk by “watering down” the previous control orders regime.

He told the BBC Radio 4’s The World At One: “I think what they have done is complacent and dangerous and I warned the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister about this when the legislation was going through.

“To take these suspects and give them access to mobile phones and the internet, the Government chose to disarm itself from the powers to relocate suspects and I believe this gentleman was previously excluded from coming to London. He has used his new-found, government-given freedom to come back to London and has now absconded.”

David Anderson QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, told the programme the replacement measures were “still pretty oppressive”.

The end of relocation powers had been balanced by increased resources for surveillance, he said, and Tpims were limited to two years as opposed to the indefinite length of control orders.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the case raised “important questions”.

“The priority right now must be to find Ibrahim Magag, and I agree with the Home Secretary’s decision to remove the suspect’s anonymity,” she said.