Charges dropped against ex-Guantanamo inmate Moazzam Begg

Moazzam Begg’s trial was due to start on Monday and its not clear why the charges against him have suddenly been dropped. The Crown Prosecution Service and the police will be left facing many questions about the decision.

The charges were all connected to the conflict in Syria and included an allegation that he attended a terrorist training camp there.

I spoke to Mr Begg after his return from Syria. He had made no secret of his visit to the conflict zone and told me he had been investigating allegations about the government’s complicity in rendition.

The security services had even questioned him about his trip and yet it was not until months after that he was arrested.

His arrest was hugely controversial within the Muslim community and an online campaign, along with demonstrations in his home city of Birmingham, had been held.

Mr Begg is expected to be released from Belmarsh Prison in south London later on Wednesday.