(KUNA) -- A former "Belmarsh detainee" (a prison in south London) described as a senior member of a terrorist group linked with Osama Bin Laden has been deported from Britain, the British Home Office has confirmed. The man, who can only be identified by the initial "I", was returned to Algeria yesterday after voluntarily dropping his appeal against deportation moves by the Government. He was the second Algerian terror suspect to be removed from the UK on national security grounds, following last Friday's departure of another Algerian known as "V".Background information about Mr "I", including the alleged links with Abu Doha and other allegations levelled against him by the Government, are included in a Siac open judgment from 2004. The Home Office did not name Mr "I" in its statement late last night. But sources close to the Algerian disclosed to the British media that Mr "I" was the man deported. Mr "I" was imprisoned without charge or trial for three years under the Government's controversial Internment Powers. The Home Secretary has insisted that the Algerian was a senior member of the Abu Doha group and had received Mujahedeen training in Afghanistan. He was said to be an expert in manufacturing electrical explosives.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "An Algerian national representing a threat to the UK was exported to Algeria. The individual had withdrawn an appeal against deportation and is the second Algerian national deported to Algeria on National Security grounds. The British Government is grateful to the Algerian authorities for their cooperation in facilitating the deportation of this individual. This is an indication of our shared commitment in the fight against terrorism and of the warm relationship between our two countries." She confirmed that a number of other Algerians have withdrawn their appeals against deportation moves and that proceedings are underway to remove them from Britain. A number of others are appeal against deportation and their cases are currently before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac)," she added.