A seventh terror suspect has disappeared while on a control order under which he was subject to restrictions short of house arrest, the Government announced today.

The man, an Iraqi, disappeared from his accommodation on Monday night after being under the order for nineteen months.

He was one of six Iraqis sent to the UK to recruit individuals to travel to Iraq to carry out attacks on British troops in the country.

The man’s disappearance is the latest embarrassment to hit the Government over control orders following the revelation earlier this month that police are not allowed to take the fingerprints or DNA form suspects on an order.

Seven of the 17 suspects on control orders have now absconded.

Tony McNulty, the police minister, disclosed the latest disappearance by a suspect supposed to be subject to anti-terror controls in a written statement to MPs.

Mr McNulty said :”Locating this individual is an operational matter for the police, and an active investigation is under way.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was fitted with an electronic tag, subject to a 14-hour-a-day curfew, obliged to stay within a restricted area and live at a specified address.

Restrictions had also been imposed on his access to finances and communications, including telephones and internet.

Visitors had to be authorised by the Home Office and his home was liable to searches by police.

The restrictions were imposed last August after the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers and two of his collegues ruled that hold suspects on 18 hour curfews amounted to a deprivation of liberty.

Instead of them being on curfew for 18 hours, the Home Office placed them under house arrest for 14 hours.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• He stole my son, now I’m alone in hell
• Back on the air, but don’t mention Mugabe
• Ten kitchen gadget gift ideas