British police admit violence and abuse of terrorism suspect

Mar 18, 2009, 14:21 GMT

London - British police Wednesday agreed to pay 60,000 pounds (83,850 dollars) in compensation to a terrorism suspect after admitting that the man was subjected to violent assault and religious abuse during his arrest.

Babar Ahmad, a 34-year-old IT analyst of Pakistani origin, had alleged that he was punched and repeatedly choked to the point of unconsciousness during his arrest on a US extradition warrant in an anti-terrorism raid in London in December, 2003.

He was present at the High Court hearing Wednesday which heard Scotland Yard chief Paul Stephenson concede that Ahmad had been the victim of 'gratuitous violence' by officers.

One of the unnamed officers involved allegedly involved is expected to face criminal proceedings, the court heard.

Ahmad, who was never charged in Britain following the raid, had been suspected of links to al-Qaeda. He is awaiting extradition to the US on charges of fundraising in support of terrorism in Chechnya and Afghanistan.

At the High Court hearing, the Metropolitan Police admitted that officers had subjected Ahmad to brutal beating, despite his offering no resistance.

The court heard that an officer twice placed him in a life- threatening neck hold, causing him to feel that he was about to die.

Officers openly mocked his Islamic faith, at one point forcing him into a praying position with an officer shouting 'Where is your god now? Pray to him,' the court heard.

One officer had grabbed his testicles and pulled hard, causing intense pain, the court was told. Officers had also deliberately wrenched Ahmad about by his handcuffs, causing him excruciating pain.

One officer told him after a beating in the police van: 'You will remember this day for the rest of your life.'

Ahmad's counsel, Phillippa Kaufman, said the treatment to which her client was subjected was intended 'to humiliate and debase him and make him fear for his life.'

'This abuse took place not in Guantanamo Bay or a secret torture chamber but in Tooting, south London,' a statement read out on Ahmad's behalf said.

His wife, Maryam, said she was 'delighted' at the court ruling which came after a 'long and hard-fought campaign' lasting six years.