New curbs may be imposed on their freedom
London: At least 46 convicted terrorists who have been either released from a British prison or are close to being freed, "pose a risk" to the public and face tight new controls on their freedom, a secret Government document discloses.
The Daily Telegraph has learnt that concern over the release of a "significant" number of extremists has driven ministers to draw up rules for their supervision.
Probation officers have been issued with a "menu" of restrictions that can be placed on terrorists freed on licence. The curbs are understood to include orders to have contact with only Government-approved clerics, not to visit certain mosques, not to associate with anyone with a criminal record and not to use computers.
According to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures, at least 20 convicted terrorists have been freed from jail this year after completing their sentences. Another 26 will be eligible for release over the next two years.
Instruction
Amid warnings from security officials about the threat posed by freed extremists, the MoJ has issued probation officers with orders permitting significant limits on their clients' freedom.
The newspaper has seen a copy of the MoJ document, marked "Restricted" and entitled The Management of Critical Public Protection Cases and Terrorist or Terrorist Related Offenders.
It states: "There is now a small but significant number of terrorists being held in custody or managed on licence.
"This instruction ensures that processes to manage offenders who pose a risk of harm to the public or whose cases pose complex management issues are effectively configured to meet the challenges of managing terrorist offenders."
The threat of terrorism was underlined last week by the discovery of a parcel bomb on a plane at East Midlands airport, and the jailing of Roshonara Choudhry, the student who was inspired by Al Qaida to attempt to murder the Labour MP Stephen Timms.
By some estimates there are now more than 100 convicted terrorists in the British prison system. Terrorists who were eligible to be freed over the past two years included Abu Bakr Mansha, jailed for plotting to kill a British soldier, and Khalid Khaliq, an associate of the July 7 bombers who was jailed for possessing documents useful for terrorism.
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