Parole Board refuses to release terrorist from prison as deportation presents a public safety risk abroad

The Parole Board has declined to release a terrorist from prison, saying that the government's plans to deport him could cause a public safety risk abroad.

Jawad Akbar was imprisoned for his part in an al-Qaeda-inspired plot to bomb locations including the Ministry of Sound nightclub and the Bluewater shopping centre.

After the plot was discovered in 2004, Akbar was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 17-and-a-half years for conspiring to cause an explosion.

Following its own risk assessment, the Home Office imposed a deportation order on Akbar in 2017, so that when released, he would be deported to Italy. This is despite his alleged history of terrorist activity abroad.

Akbar had travelled to the Malakand training camp in Pakistan, which is believed to be run by al-Qaeda. Bomb-making manuals were also found on his laptop.

The minimum prison term expired last September, meaning the Parole Board needed to decide if it was safe for him to be released.

The Parole Board said: “The panel concluded that the plan for the United Kingdom was robust, however, it did not have the same level of confidence in the plan to manage risk if Mr Akbar was deported.”

“After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was not satisfied that Mr Akbar was suitable for release. He will be eligible for another parole review in due course.”

All terrorists released from prison are also assessed by MI5 as "subjects" of interest", however, the same coverage is not in place in Italy - so it could only be implemented if he returned to the UK, was recalled to prison and then released again.

Furthermore, if Akbar made a visa application to return to the UK, an automatic warning would be triggered, with airports and other points of entry to the country would be monitored.