MI5 contacted Guantanamo detainee

Last Modified: 04 Apr 2007
By: Andy Davies

Documents show that Britain's security services tried to recruit a Guantanamo Bay detainee shortly before his arrest.

At a quarter to nine in the morning on the 31st October 2002, Jamil al-Banna was at home with his family when there was a knock at the door. Two men - one from MI5, the other Special Branch - wanted to speak to Mr al-Banna about his association with the Jordanian radical cleric Abu Qatada.

This is the Mi5 officer's account of that meeting. (Jamil al-Banna was also known as Abu Anas.)

"Anas asked me to repeat who we were and I said that I was from the Security Service... I explained that Andy was from Scotland Yard and that I was from 'the mukhaberaat' (Arabic intelligence agency), although it was important for him to understand that we were not like the mukhaberaat in most Arab countries... "

With that assurance the MI5 man continued:

"If he chose to help us by providing details of all his activities and contacts, we would assist him to create a new life for himself and his family"
MI5 officer statement

With that assurance the MI5 man continued:

"I told him that in addition to increased focus on the UK based extremists, we were investigating report of terrorists based abroad who were keen to mount attacks in the UK, possibly using biological or chemical weapons."

Then Mr Al-Banna had his options spelt out to him:

"I continued saying that in the event of a successful attack in the UK, it was not possible to predict the government's reaction. It was quite possible that he could find himself swept up in a further round of detentions. He did however have a choice..."

"... If he chose to help us by providing details of all his activities and contacts, we would assist him to create a new life for himself and his family."

"A new identity, new nationality, money to set himself up in business and to provide for his family, and an opportunity to move to a Muslim country."

"He said he would be travelling the next day and asked whether he would be arrested or turned back at the airport. I said that if he had a valid travel document he should be able to travel without a problem."
MI5 officer statement

Al-Banna didn't take up MI5's offer, it appears. He did, however, ask specifically about his safety on a forthcoming trip to the Gambia - where he said he was hoping to invest in a peanut factory.

The officer replied: "He said he would be travelling the next day and asked whether he would be arrested or turned back at the airport. I said that if he had a valid travel document he should be able to travel without a problem."

The following day al-Banna and his friend Bishr Al-Rawi were arrested at Gatwick en route to the Gambia. Arrested because Al-Rawi was thought to be carrying a suspicious device. It turned out to be a battery charger and they were released.

But then on the day the two men finally flew out of London - British intelligence sent a telegram to the American Authorities. It read:

"We are able to confirm that the three individuals associated with the prominent spiritual cleric Abu Qatada, who were arrested at Gatwick, have today boarded Flight LJ054 to Banjul, Gambia."

On arrival in the Gambia both men were arrested, taken to Afghanistan and then flown by the CIA to Guantanamo Bay. Jamil al-Banna is still there, interned in a camp Tony Blair has described as an anomaly.

An intelligence source told Channel 4 News today that the respect and consideration shown to Al Banna in the visit by the MI5 officer hardly squares with claims that the agency 'conspired to hand him over to the Americans'.

Today the Attorney General indicated he would look into the case further and he reiterated his calls for the Americans to close Camp Delta. Five days ago Bishr al-Rawi, a British resident, was released from Guantanamo Bay following the disclosure that he'd once helped MI5.

His friend Jamil al-banna turned MI5 down. The campaign to bring him home may prove more challenging.