Terrorists seek a safe haven in Strasbourg

Rangzieb Ahmed, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was jailed for life in 2008 as the result of an investigation into a network of Islamists stretching from Manchester to Pakistan. Ahmed was the link between British al-Qaeda sympathisers and overseas commanders. Had he been allowed to continue his work unchecked, few dispute that he was likely to cause incalculable damage.

Salahuddin Amin, from Luton, was convicted and sentenced to life in 2007 for conspiring to cause an explosion, by taking part in plans to detonate a massive fertiliser-based bomb. Amin himself sourced the bomb formula and detonators, and his conspirators had got as far as procuring and keeping 600kg of ammonium nitrate in a storage unit in Hanwell, west London. Potential targets included Bluewater shopping centre in Kent or the Ministry of Sound nightclub in London.

As we report today, both men have now launched an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), on the grounds that MI5 was allegedly complicit in their torture by Pakistani security services. Officials at the court have permitted their case to proceed. If Strasbourg does not deem the response of the British Government satisfactory, it will instigate a full hearing which, if successful, would almost inevitably lead to the quashing of the men’s convictions. (...)