Terrorist suspect to be set free from Broadmoor

A terrorist suspect held without trial since 2001 was set to be freed on bail today in a new blow for Home Secretary Charles Clarke.

Palestinian refugee Abu Rideh, 33, is one of the "Belmarsh 12", whose detention under emergency laws was ruled illegal by the Law Lords last month.

Mr Clarke pledged last week that the men would not be let out until new laws were in place to permit their effective "house arrest".

But the Special Immigration Appeals Tribunal, which sits in secret to rule on the detention of suspects, today ruled that Rideh should be released on bail.

Rideh has been detained since December, 2001, accused of raising money for terrorists. He was initially held at Belmarsh high-security prison but was transferred in 2002 to Broadmoor, after psychiatrists said he was mentally ill.

He was born to Palestinian parents in a refugee camp in Jordan and came to Britain in

1995. He was granted refugee status in 1998.

An SIAC judgment in October, 2003, said there was a "reasonable belief " that his presence in Britain was a risk to national security.

But the Law Lords ruled in December that the detention of foreigners without trial, under emergency legislation passed by Parliament in 2001, was in breach of human rights law.

SIAC was meeting in London to rule on appeals by four of the detainees - Rideh and three individuals known only as A, C and P.

The court is to announce the terms and conditions under which Rideh will be freed. He could be out today, although it is more likely to be days or weeks.

Today's decision will trigger further criticism of the secretive process, with suspects and their lawyers not shown the key evidence under which they are being detained.