An Algerian pilot who has been accused of training the suicide hijackers who crashed into the Pentagon on September 11th was granted bail at an extradition hearing in London today.
Mr Lotfi Raissi (27), who has been held in jail for five months, emerged from the top security Belmarsh Magistrates Court complex in southeast London to applause from his family and friends.
Minutes earlier, District Judge Mr Timothy Workman said Mr Raissi, who lives near Heathrow airport, could have conditional bail as he was only facing extradition to the US on two counts of falsifying an application for a US pilot's licence.
Mr Raissi was told his family would have to give £10,000 sterling in surety, that he would have to live at an address specified to the court and that he would have to surrender his passport and not apply for international travel documents.
The extradition warrant Mr Raissi was arrested under only included the charges relating to the pilot's licence.
At previous court hearings in London lawyers acting for the US authorities indicated he was suspected of being a "lead instructor" for pilots responsible for the September 11th hijackings. But no terrorism charges have been formally introduced.
After Mr Raissi left the court, his solicitor, Mr Richard Egan, read a short statement to the waiting media. "He [Mr Raissi] maintains his innocence regarding the September 11th atrocities and is pleased the US government has recognised there is no basis for his extradition on that matter," he said.
"With relation to the remaining charges he awaits the extradition hearing with confidence that all charges will be dismissed".
Mr Raissi is due to appear before Bow Street Magistrates court in London on March 28th for a further extradition hearing.
PA