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Stansted hijacker working at Heathrow
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Evening Standard16.05.08
A hijacker who threatened to blow up a plane has been working at Heathrow, it emerged today.
Nazamuddin Mohammidy, 34, is one of nine Afghan men who hijacked a jet on its way to Stansted and threatened to kill all 173 passengers.
It now appears that since then Mohammidy has been working at Heathrow cleaning offices belonging to British Airways.
He was arrested by Met officers near Heathrow's Terminal Five on suspicion of being an unlicensed taxi driver after being spotted circling the terminal but discovered instead that he had a BA pass.
However, officers then learned that he was on bail accused of beating up his former landlord and allegedly living at a different address from the one given in court.
Mohammidy and his gang, armed with guns and grenades, took over an internal flight over Afghanistan in February 2000.
They ordered the pilot of the Boeing 727 to divert to Britain. After landing at Stansted a 70-hour siege ensued as the hijackers demanded asylum and threatened to blow up the plane if it was not granted.
Finally, they surrendered to the authorities.
Their convictions at the Old Bailey for hijacking were later quashed and in 2004 an immigration panel ruled that deporting them would breach their human rights.
In August 2006 they finally won the right to live in the UK.
Mohammidy, who lives in Hounslow with his family, has been employed by a Feltham-based company which has a contract to clean a BA training centre.
Sources insist the pass did not give him airside access. However it does allow him into secure areas.
Last night he was free on bail. Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch, said: "This is another example of how the asylum system has been abused. It is testing the patience of the British public."
Reader views (2)
"The guy has served his sentence and repaid his debt to society. "
No he hasn't. His conviction was quashed. He has benefited from his crime and shown no remorse towards those he terrified and inconvenienced in his hi-jack.
- Marianne Chisholm, London UK
The guy has served his sentence and repaid his dept to society. To his credit, he is not claiming benefits and has taken a low paid, horrible job that most Brits will not do. He is a cleaner. Give him a break and leave him be.
- Simon Mctintock, London, UK
