Right under their noses

The Daily Mail on Saturday offered yet more evidence of lax security and failure to get to grips with the problem of immigration.

In December 2007 Nazamuddin Mohammidy , 34, a cleaner at Terminal 5, Heathrow, was stopped and searched by police as he drove his car about. They thought that he might be an unlicensed cab driverThey found that he had a British Airways pass permitting him to go to some restricted areas.

What emerged when the police checked up was that he was one of nine Afgans who hi-jacked a Boeing 727 in 2000 and forced the plane to go to Stansted airport, where they threatened to kill 160 passengers unless they were granted asylum.

It seems that they were convicted, but later released and given the right to remain in this country, (apparently rent-free and with total benefits of £150,000 a year, according to the Dail Mail.)

Mohamiddy had apparently gained a job as cleaner at Terminal 5, working for a contractor.

He was also in breach of recent bail conditions, having failed to make an earlier bail appearance over an assault charge and due to appear in court today. It beggars belief that a man with his history could anywhere near an airport. But it doesn't surprise that he had somehow been lost by the authorities and inadequately investigated for security clearance.