Chip

The only surviving hostage taker from the IranianEmbassy seige in 1980 is to be freed after serving 25 years of a life sentence.

Normally Fowzi Badavi Nejad would be released and immediately deported. But as Nejad is an Iranian citizen and extradition home could mean execution, he cannot be returned.

The prospect of Nejad's release is not welcomed by Trevor Lock, 65, the policeman held hostage by the gunmen and the man considered the true hero of the siege.

'This guy was as bad as the rest of them,' he told the BBC. 'He was the only one of the gunmen I didn't connect with at all. On one occasion in the middle of the siege he even shot over the head of the charges d'affaires for his own amusement.

'For such a serious crime life should mean life but if they let him out, I'll just have to accept it. I'll accept it, but I don't have to agree with it.


Its a bit pathetic when youve got Blair and Charles Clarke saying that theyre going to crack down hard on terrorists in this country. Looks like yet again we'll end up keeping him at our expense.


Chip

Brendan Hughes

Already have done. Average cost of a prisoner is about 20k pa, ISTR.

gsm1

He's done 25 years, what more do you want?

Jerome

Shame the SAS got spotted by a reporter before they could finish the job in 1980.

Chip

Either him out of this country for good or his life. That's what. Only what the scum deserves.

Chip

BOB.T

I can cope with releasing and deporting him, I don't see why we should worry about his home nation killing him...I'd be more concerned about him walking free.

Chip

Exactly!