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Terrorism suspect released in Australia

Glasgow - Airport targeted
Glasgow - Airport targeted

Australian authorities have dropped terrorism charges against a man who was arrested in connection with June's failed car bomb attacks in London's West End and at Glasgow Airport.

Dr Mohamed Haneef, 27, had been charged with recklessly supporting terrorism by providing a mobile phone SIM card to a relative subsequently arrested in connection with the attacks.

The doctor, who worked as a registrar in a Gold Coast hospital, denied any involvement with the failed attacks.

His wife, who had insisted that the charges against her husband were 'senseless', said he had given away the SIM card when leaving Britain last year to take up his job in a Australia.

Prosecutors had wrongly claimed that the SIM card was found in the burning car that crashed into Glasgow airport.

It has since emerged that the SIM card was found eight hours later at a flat in Liverpool.

Dr Haneef has been in prison since he was detained by police earlier this month as he was about to leave Australia for India.

The Indian government has asked Australia to restore Mr Haneef's visa after an Australian review revealed mistakes made in rushing the case to court and found there was not enough evidence to support a conviction.

India's foreign ministry said it had instructed the Indian High Commission in Canberra to support the doctor's request for  reinstatement of his visa, cancelled by the Australian government  earlier on character grounds.