Guantanamo three allowed home

Jamil el-Banna, 45, Omar Deghayes, 38, and Abdennour Samuer, 34, flew to Britain on Wednesday night after being released from the controversial US camp in Cuba.

But all three were arrested in relation to terrorism offences on their return and had to endure another 24 hours before being allowed to go home for the first time in years. Samuer eventually walked free from Paddington Green police station on Thursday afternoon after being released without charge, while el-Banna and Deghayes were granted bail, each on condition of a £50,000 surety.

Both appeared at City of Westminster magistrates' court in central London, in separate hearings, after being arrested under European arrest warrants issued on behalf of Spain.

For el-Banna, a father-of-five from Dollis Hill, north-west London, this was the first time he has seen his family in more than five years. On leaving court, he said in a brief statement: "Thank you very much everybody, my solicitor, the British people, the British Government for your help. I'm tired. I want to go home and see my children."

He was later pictured emerging from a taxi outside his home, where his children - one of whom he has never met - were waiting on the doorstep to meet him.

Senior District Judge Timothy Workman granted him bail under stringent conditions, meaning he must stay at his home address, obey a curfew and be electronically tagged. Half of his £50,000 surety was later put up by human rights campaigner and actress Vanessa Redgrave and the rest by two other supporters.

Deghayes spoke at his hearing to confirm his name, address in Brighton and age. The court heard that the Spanish warrant related to allegations that Deghayes was a member of a Spanish al Qaida cell called the Islamic Alliance.

In 1996 it is alleged that Deghayes went to Spain and hid in the Madrid flat of a man later convicted of involvement in the Casablanca bombing. It is also alleged that he associated with one of the men involved in the Madrid bombing. Edward Fitzgerald, for the defence, who also represented el-Banna, said his client was a victim of mistaken identity.

Granting bail, District Judge Workman ordered Deghayes to obey a curfew order and live at his address in Brighton. He was also told he must wear an electronic tag and that he could not apply for or possess travel documents. Ms Redgrave put up £15,000 towards the surety, adding to the £25,000 she earlier pledged in the el-Banna case.