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The police operation was rushed forward on Wednesday following a blunder by Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, who inadvertently revealed confidential details of the raids while leaving his car for a Downing Street meeting.
Benhammedi?s flat on Earle Road, in Liverpool?s Wavertree district, was one of ten properties being searched. He bought it with Asaad Shalash in 2004 as part of a business partnership called Ozlam Properties Ltd.
But in 2006, Mr Benhammedi, 42, had his assets and three property firms frozen for his alleged role in financing the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, an organisation that the US Government claims attempted to install a hard-line Islamic state in the African country.
Wanted: Benhammedi
A press release from the US Treasury accused Benhammedi of being a ?key financier? of the terrorist group, adding that he was believed to provide funds through three property companies, including Ozlam Properties Ltd.
The statement claimed he had first come to the attention of authorities when he was detained in 2002 by Iranian officials as he attempted to illegally enter Afghanistan.
Benhammedi was subsequently arrested in 2006 in the UK under terrorism legislation for alleged activities in Iraq and was due to be deported.
Last night it was unclear whether Benhammedi had been forced to leave the UK. However, Interpol has appealed for anyone with information on the Libyan-born businessman, who operates under a number of aliases including the westernised name of Ben Hammedi.
Mr Shalash, who was a co-director with Benhammedi in Ozlam Properties, claimed ?complete innocence? of any links with terrorism.
He said he first met Benhammedi in 2004 when he was running a rival property firm called Sara Properties.
He said: ?I was running a company called Ozlam Properties on the same road in Liverpool. We became partners and shared some work, mainly maintenance work and property lets.
?In about 2006, Mr Hammedi was arrested and I understand he was in custody for about five months on terror charges. As a result of that, his business assets, including his interest in my company, were all frozen by the United Nations. The whole thing ultimately cost me about ?180,000.
?He was a flamboyant character and would drive around in limousines with lots of women. He controlled a property empire of some 300 properties in the Liverpool area. I don?t know whether he is a terrorist or not. But as he was released from custody after being arrested, I assumed he was innocent.
?The last time I saw Mr Hammedi was about 18 months ago. But to be honest with you, I do not want to know him.?
Mr Shalash, 46, added that the men living in his property had only recently moved in, each paying a month?s rent in advance. He said: ?The police interviewed me for three hours. They went over all I knew about the men. I told them I knew nothing about them, apart from the fact that they were students.?
This week?s raids caused a diplomatic row between Britain and Pakistan, with Mr Brown calling on Pakistan to do more ?to root out the terrorist elements in its country?.
Source:
Mail Online
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