May appeal in terror suspect case

The Home Secretary has assessed that a suspect Islamic extremist and his associates intend to carry out terror attacks, with targets "mostly likely in London", the High Court has heard.

Theresa May is asking a judge to uphold her decision to impose a control order on the suspect, referred to as "CD", that restricts his freedom and bans him from the capital.

Security services have named CD, a father-of-two with joint UK-Nigerian nationality, as the leading figure in "a close group of Islamic extremists based in north London".

MI5 assesses that he trained in 2004 alongside the men behind the 21/7 bomb plot, according to written statements put before Mr Justice Owen. They say he underwent further training in Syria for three years and while there began planning a terrorist attack against the UK.

Intelligence reports assess that on his return to the UK in April 2009, the attack planning continued and he and his associates made several attempts to obtain firearms.

CD denies the allegations against him. His lawyers say the security assessments are flawed and there is insufficient evidence to justify the control order, made under anti-terrorism legislation. They argue the distress being caused to him and his family is "disproportionate".

Lawyers for the Home Secretary say the order is not flawed and its restrictions are "necessary and proportionate in the light of the grave threat posed by CD".

The order under challenge was imposed last February and CD relocated to a Midlands city to prevent him contacting alleged fellow conspirators "TM" and "MS". The Home Office says he cannot stand trial because the evidence against him is either inadmissible in court or using it could reveal intelligence sources.

London Mayor Boris Johnson has appealed to Government ministers to keep CD away from the capital. Mr Johnson said: "It's clear from the court papers that he rejects and would like to destroy everything that makes this a great city. We don't want this man in London."

At a recent High Court hearing, the Home Secretary was ordered to contribute to the cost of visits to him by family members who remain living in London.