Osama Bin Laden's top UK terror boss bankrolled by £1m taxpayer cash makes bid for freedom

A terror chief known as Osama Bin Laden’s top European strategist could be freed from a UK jail this summer, it has been confirmed - with a staggering £1million in taxpayers' cash already spent on his legal fight.

The Parole Board is due to hear 47-year-old Rangzieb Ahmed’s case on June 20, paving the way for his release just weeks later.

And Chris Phillips, the former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, fears that if the 47-year-old wins his case, it will inevitably “put public safety at risk”.

Ahmed is believed to have been Al-Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden’s top operative in Europe - and in 2008 became the first person in Britain convicted of directing terrorism.

He was jailed for plotting deadly attacks and had a book of terror contacts written in invisible ink, plus a rucksack containing traces of explosives.

Incredibly, Ahmed has so far received a dizzying £1million in legal aid to foot the bill for his bid for freedom, with a previous application in September 2022 turned down after he was deemed too dangerous to be released.

Last July he was ordered to take part in a deradicalisation programme which aims to make him safe for release.

Now it can be revealed that Ahmed has won a new hearing with the Parole Board in which he is expected to claim he is fully rehabilitated.

The news comes just days after it emerged another jailed terrorist is trying to secure an exit from prison.

Parviz Khan, who is aged in his 50s, who planned to kidnap and decapitate a British Muslim soldier, will appear before the Parole Board next week.

Last night Mr Phillips told GBNews: “Public safety will be at risk if either of these men are released.

“You have to question whether it will ever be safe for either of them to walk the streets again.”

A Parole Board spokesperson confirmed the news, explaining :"An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Rangzieb Ahmed and is scheduled to take place in June 2024.

"Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

“A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.”

The spokesman added: “Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

“Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.

“The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.

“Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”

Rochdale-born Ahmed was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years after Manchester Crown Court was told he was behind the terror cell.

Counter-terrorism chiefs were uncertain where Ahmed was planning to strike, but were convinced an attack was imminent.

His scheme was revealed with the discovery of three diaries, found to contain details and phone numbers of key al-Qaeda operatives written in invisible ink.

He was arrested by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency when he flew into the country in August 2006. He was held for a year before being deported to the UK and arrested.

Ahmed later sued MI5 and MI6 for alleged collusion in his torture by Pakistani intelligence, but in 2020 his damages claim was thrown out by the High Court.