Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed: Warrant issued for burka terror suspect
Old Bailey judge has issued a warrant for 27-year-old
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A warrant for the arrest of terror suspect Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed has been issued after he failed to appear in court this morning.
The 27-year-old absconded from a London mosque seven days ago whilst wearing a burka. He faces charges over 14 alleged breaches of a control order as well as 6 breaches of the Terrorism Prevention and investigation measures (TPim) order. Tpims restrict movement and prevent an individual from leaving the country.
Mohamed is charged with six counts on one indictment, concerning breaches of his Tpim.
It is alleged he failed to report to Acton police station, as required by the order, on 22 to 25 December and 27 to 28 December.
He is facing a further 14 counts on the second indictment relating to breaches in 2011 of a control order, the predecessor to Tpims.
Among the charges, it is alleged he failed to report to a monitoring company, failed to report to Ipswich police station, met a person without agreement of the Home Office, and used an unauthorised mobile phone.
The Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command, MI5 and the UK's Border Force are looking for him and Old Bailey judge issued a warrant for his arrest.
Mohamed's solicitor Gareth Peirce told the court she had “no reason for the defendant's non- appearance”.
Ms Peirce said Mohamed was forcibly removed from Somalia to this country with the “involvement of the security services here”.
Crown prosecutor Stuart Baker requested that the trial date remain fixed as the proceedings may continue in Mohamed's absence.
Yesterday, Mr Justice Irwin, sitting at London's High Court, handed down a preliminary ruling in the action.
The ground-breaking ruling allows the Government to fight their claim by relying on secret evidence, on grounds of national security. This was ruled legal under the Justice and Security Act 2013.
The judge said: “As far as we know, Mr Mohamed may be apprehended, but there may come a time when you can make an application to dismiss his case”.
In the High Court, Mr Mohammed is claiming damages from the Government over allegations that the British authorities consented to - or acquiesced in - his detention and torture by the Somaliland authorities on 14 January 2011.
Mohamed launched his damages claim in January 2012 under a cloak of anonymity and was referred to in court papers as “MA”. But anonymity was lifted yesterday following his disappearance.
During the hearing, James Eadie QC indicated that the Government might seek an order striking out Mohamed's claim because he has absconded.
Mr Eadie said the case raised the question “whether it is abusive for someone in Mr Mohamed's position to invoke the courts' jurisdiction as a claimant whilst denying that jurisdiction by absconding”.
Additional reporting by Press Association