Doctor linked to British bomb plot returns home to India

Jul 29, 2007, 18:39 GMT

New Delhi - An Indian doctor held in Australia over last month's failed car bombings in Britain returned home to an emotional welcome by his family in the southern Indian city of Bangalore on Sunday.

Mohammed Haneef, 27, was arrested at Brisbane airport on July 2 and charged with supporting the failed terrorist plot in Britain. He was set free on July 27 after Australian authorities dropped the allegations.

Haneef, who arrived by a connecting flight from Bangkok, was warmly greeted by his father-in-law Ashfaq Ahmed and other relatives at Bangalore airport.

'I am happy to be here. I am relieved and eager to see my daughter,' Haneef told reporters before leaving for his home where his family had organized a get-together of close relatives and friends to welcome him.

Australian police initially alleged that Haneef had supplied a mobile phone SIM card to the group behind the failed bombings and that it was found in a blazing Jeep that cousin Kafeel Ahmed is alleged to have driven into the concourse at Glasgow airport on June 30.

They subsequently withdrew the allegation, saying the SIM card was found with Kafeel Ahmed's brother Sabeel in a house in Liverpool some 300 kilometres away.

In his first interview following his release, with the Australian channel Nine Network, Haneef, when asked whether he was a terrorist, said: 'It's not in my nature to ever support or involve (myself) in such activities at all'.

Haneef said he was never a risk to Australia and would have informed authorities had he known his cousins Kafeel and Sabeel were plotting attacks in Britain.

He said he did not know that Kafeel held radical views and had been startled to learn of his involvement in the bombing plot.

'I couldn't really believe that someone from my family...would do such a thing,' Haneef said, adding he was scared to be labelled as 'terrorist' after his cousin's involvement in terrorist activity.

'If I had known anything, definitely, I would have let the authorities (know), let their parents know first ... who are the main sufferers now I suppose,' he said.

Although Haneef, who was employed at a hospital on Australia's Gold Coast, no longer faces terrorism charges, his work visa has been suspended and Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews has refused to reinstate it.

Haneef's lawyer, Peter Russo said he would appeal Andrew's decision to revoke the visa and would proceed with a court appeal in August.