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14/04/2005
Ricin case ignites immigration row
Following the conviction of a failed asylum seeker over plans to launch poison attacks in Britain, Conservative leader Michael Howard has launched an attack on Labour’s handling of asylum and immigration.
Mr Howard said that 31-year-old Kamel Bourgass “should not have been in Britain at all.”
Bourgass was jailed for life yesterday for conspiring to commit a public nuisance by the use of poisons and explosives. Material used to manufacture deadly poisons, such as ricin and cyanide, as well as instructions for making explosives, were found in his London flat during a raid.
Bourgass had fled to Manchester, where he was finally arrested. However, during an escape attempt, Bourgass stabbed Detective Constable Stephen Oake to death and injured three other officers.
Bourgass had reportedly been refused asylum in 2001, but was still living in the UK when he murdered DC Oake in January 2003.
Commenting on the case, Mr Howard attacked Labour’s record on asylum and immigration, saying that Bourgass was “one of a quarter of a million failed asylum seekers living in Britain.” He said that Bourgass would not have been living in the UK if Mr Blair had delivered the "firm but fair" immigration controls he had promised when Labour came to power in 1997.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke admitted that asylum measures needed to be improved, but stressed that Labour had made “major advances”, citing the introduction of measures such as the new anti-terror legislation passed last month and plans for identity cards and stronger border controls.
Mr Clarke said that asylum applications had been reduced by two-thirds since 2002 and also said that removals were three-quarters higher than in 1997.
The Conservatives claim that a new police force should be created in order to control British borders and also stress that 24-hour security is required at all airports.
Four other men were cleared of conspiracy charges in the poison plot case last week. Their solicitor, Gareth Pierce, said that there was no ricin in the flat and no poison had been made. She told BBC Radio 4 that Bourgass’ plans seemed to be “a pathetic, clumsy, amateurish attempt” by a man who was regarded as “a difficult, anti-social loner”.
(KMcA/GB)
Mr Howard said that 31-year-old Kamel Bourgass “should not have been in Britain at all.”
Bourgass was jailed for life yesterday for conspiring to commit a public nuisance by the use of poisons and explosives. Material used to manufacture deadly poisons, such as ricin and cyanide, as well as instructions for making explosives, were found in his London flat during a raid.
Bourgass had fled to Manchester, where he was finally arrested. However, during an escape attempt, Bourgass stabbed Detective Constable Stephen Oake to death and injured three other officers.
Bourgass had reportedly been refused asylum in 2001, but was still living in the UK when he murdered DC Oake in January 2003.
Commenting on the case, Mr Howard attacked Labour’s record on asylum and immigration, saying that Bourgass was “one of a quarter of a million failed asylum seekers living in Britain.” He said that Bourgass would not have been living in the UK if Mr Blair had delivered the "firm but fair" immigration controls he had promised when Labour came to power in 1997.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke admitted that asylum measures needed to be improved, but stressed that Labour had made “major advances”, citing the introduction of measures such as the new anti-terror legislation passed last month and plans for identity cards and stronger border controls.
Mr Clarke said that asylum applications had been reduced by two-thirds since 2002 and also said that removals were three-quarters higher than in 1997.
The Conservatives claim that a new police force should be created in order to control British borders and also stress that 24-hour security is required at all airports.
Four other men were cleared of conspiracy charges in the poison plot case last week. Their solicitor, Gareth Pierce, said that there was no ricin in the flat and no poison had been made. She told BBC Radio 4 that Bourgass’ plans seemed to be “a pathetic, clumsy, amateurish attempt” by a man who was regarded as “a difficult, anti-social loner”.
(KMcA/GB)
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