Two UK Terrorists Win Jail Segregation Claims

Two terrorists who were kept apart from other prisoners for extended periods have won challenges at the UK's highest court.

Five Supreme Court justices in London allowed appeals by "liquid bomber" Tanvir Hussain and Ricin plot conspirator Kamel Bourgass.

It comes after the pair failed to persuade appeal judges that their treatment was unlawful in March 2012.

They were alleged to have intimidated and bullied other inmates over matters of faith.

As a result authorities in their respective jails deemed it necessary to separate them from other prisoners "for good order and discipline".

Both men denied accusations that they tried to influence and dictate the beliefs of other prisoners.

The Supreme Court has now unanimously ruled that the "appellants' segregation beyond the initial period of 72 hours was not authorised, so was unlawful".

The pair also claimed their human rights had been violated - but that aspect of their case was rejected by the judges.

Hussain was one of three men convicted in September 2008 of a plot to launch suicide attacks on flights from Heathrow to America and Canada using liquid bombs in soft drink bottles.

He is serving life with a minimum tariff of 32 years.

Bourgass, an Algerian, is serving 17 years for conspiracy to commit public nuisance by using poisons or explosives in relation to the 2002 Ricin terrorist plot.

He is also serving life for stabbing to death Detective Constable Stephen Oake, 40, with a kitchen knife during his arrest at a flat in Manchester the following year.

He injured four other officers during the attack and is serving sentences for attempted murder of two officers and wounding a third.

While detained at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire, Bourgass was segregated from 10 March 2010 until 22 April and again from 23 April until October or November of that year.

Hussain was segregated at HMP Frankland in County Durham from 24 April 2010 until October 2010.