(England Twitter)-British Muslim man accused of raising funds for terrorist organisations was subjected to a "sustained and very violent assault" during his arrest by four specialist officers from the Metropolitan police, a court has heard.
The jury at Southwark crown court was told the officers punched, kicked and stamped on Babar Ahmad, during an early morning raid at his home in south-west London in 2003.
Pc Nigel Cowley, Det Con John Donogue, Pc Roderick James-Bowen and Pc Mark Jones all deny assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, told the jury that the officers kicked and punched the suspect and stamped on his feet.
Officer sitting nearest to Mr Ahmad's head asked him where he was born and when he replied London, that officer punched him in the back of the head. The same officer then lifted Mr Ahmad's upper body and held him in a headlock with both arms. After releasing him [the officer] said: 'You fucking cunt, you'll remember this day for the rest of your life.
Dressed only in his pyjamas and barefooted, Mr Ahmad raised his arms above his head to indicate that he was not going to fight or to present any sort of danger or threat to the police."
Police Territorial Support Group were not "going to take any chances," the prosecutor added.
Jury was told the officers began to shout and swear at Mr Ahmad and he was punched and beaten to the floor, where the assault continued.
Court was told that as part of its investigation into Ahmad's alleged terrorist connections MI5 had bugged the house. The jury was played a 10-minute recording that covered the time of Ahmad's arrest. Although largely indecipherable it was possible to hear screaming, shouting and what appeared to be muffled commands.
Mr Ahmad, who was a suspected jihadist with training as a terrorist, was released without charge after six days.
He is currently in custody awaiting extradition to the US for alleged terrorism offences. He has been fighting that decision since 2004.
The jury was told the British courts granted the extradition, but Mr Ahmad appealed and the case has not yet been resolved.
The jury at Southwark crown court was told the officers punched, kicked and stamped on Babar Ahmad, during an early morning raid at his home in south-west London in 2003.
Pc Nigel Cowley, Det Con John Donogue, Pc Roderick James-Bowen and Pc Mark Jones all deny assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, told the jury that the officers kicked and punched the suspect and stamped on his feet.
Officer sitting nearest to Mr Ahmad's head asked him where he was born and when he replied London, that officer punched him in the back of the head. The same officer then lifted Mr Ahmad's upper body and held him in a headlock with both arms. After releasing him [the officer] said: 'You fucking cunt, you'll remember this day for the rest of your life.
Dressed only in his pyjamas and barefooted, Mr Ahmad raised his arms above his head to indicate that he was not going to fight or to present any sort of danger or threat to the police."
Police Territorial Support Group were not "going to take any chances," the prosecutor added.
Jury was told the officers began to shout and swear at Mr Ahmad and he was punched and beaten to the floor, where the assault continued.
Court was told that as part of its investigation into Ahmad's alleged terrorist connections MI5 had bugged the house. The jury was played a 10-minute recording that covered the time of Ahmad's arrest. Although largely indecipherable it was possible to hear screaming, shouting and what appeared to be muffled commands.
Mr Ahmad, who was a suspected jihadist with training as a terrorist, was released without charge after six days.
He is currently in custody awaiting extradition to the US for alleged terrorism offences. He has been fighting that decision since 2004.
The jury was told the British courts granted the extradition, but Mr Ahmad appealed and the case has not yet been resolved.
