Decision due on suspect deportation

A crucial ruling on whether a terror suspect can be deported to Algeria is set to be revealed.

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) is issuing a judgment on an appeal by an alleged terrorist, who can only be identified by the initial "Y".

Last year Y was acquitted of any involvement in the so-called "ricin plot" to distribute the deadly ricin poison on car door handles in Holloway Road, north London.

He was the first in a group of Algerians to launch an appeal against Home Office detention moves, heard earlier this year.

The ruling may have a wide-ranging impact on the Government's moves to deport 15 other Algerian terror suspects on national security grounds.

Under human rights law, suspects cannot be deported to countries where they may face torture or ill-treatment.

The Government has been seeking diplomatic assurances from the Algerian government that anyone returned to the north African country will not be harmed.

Siac chairman Mr Justice Ouseley will rule on whether Y is a threat to national security and whether he can be safely deported to Algeria.

In June two Algerian men accused of being international terrorists voluntarily left Britain.

A source close to the men, who can only be identified as "I" and "V", told the Press Association at the time that their decision to return to Algiers was "out of desperation" at the way they had been treated by Britain over a number of years.