UK terror suspect escapes from Pak police custody

Rashid Rauf, a British suspect in an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners in August 2006, has escaped from the Pakistan Police custody.

Islamabad, Dec 16 : Rashid Rauf, a British suspect in an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners in August 2006, has escaped from the Pakistan Police custody.

Rauf, a dual citizen of Britain and Pakistan, was arrested in Bhawalpur in connection with the transatlantic aircraft plot.

Confirming Rauf's escape to The News, SSP Islamabad Syed Kalim Imam said the accused escaped from the court premises.

Rauf was detained under 3 MPO and police treated him as a normal accused. Two police officials have been arrested on suspicion of helping the accused flee, Imam said.

An Islamabad police official, Khalid Pervez, was quoted as saying, " We do not know how he escaped. But we do know he has escaped and the two policemen have been taken into custody for negligence."

Federal Interior Secretary Kamal Shah said he had been informed of the escape, but said he had no details.

"I don't know anything - I'm shocked," Rauf's father, Abdul Rauf said.

According to the British media reports, the Pakistani and United Kingdom authorities were trying to swap Rauf for two Baloch Liberation Army members recently detained in London.

ANI