Suicide risk terror suspect can stay in UK

The North African fanatic, who is believed to have been involved in fund-raising and provided fake passports and travel arrangements to other terrorists, does not dispute posing a threat to national security.

But the extremist was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder and is known to have made a suicide attempt in 2005 when he was found hanging in a cell in Belmarsh prison. Psychiatrists say he needs round-the clock supervision and medication he would not receive in Algeria.

In a blow to the Home Office, the secretive Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) allowed the married 43-year-old to remain on British soil amid concerns his human rights will be breached as he is likely to commit suicide once returned to Algeria.

In the same judgment, Mr Justice Mitting – who recently allowed hate preacher Abu Qatada to stay in the UK – told six other Algerian terror suspects they must leave. But the senior immigration judge warned there was still “no end in sight” in attempting to put the men on a flight home, in a sign further appeals are imminent.

Among the six men were two fundamentalists with links to an alleged 2003 plot to commit mass murder using the poison ricin and cohorts of hook-handed preacher Abu Hamza.

The decision comes after a terror attack last week on a gas plant in Algeria, which claimed the lives of at least 39 foreign hostages, including six Britons.

In a separate note, Siac said the judgment was drafted before the In Amenas attack and it was too early to say if it would have an impact on its assessment of Algeria.

The successful appellant – who cannot be named for legal reasons and was referred to as “G” – claimed asylum in 1995 when he was caught entering the UK on a fake passport.

A previously published open judgment revealed he did not dispute the Home Secretary’s case that he poses a risk to national security.