12 Facts About Lotfi Raissi

Lotfi Raissi, was the first person charged in connection with the September 11,2001, attacks.

However, in 2003 a British court ruled that the charges against Raissi were without evidence, and that he had no association with the attacks.

Lotfi Raissi was born and grew up in Bab el Oued, a suburb of Algiers.

Lotfi Raissi was living outside Colnbrook at the time of the attacks.

Lotfi Raissi was arrested at 3 am on September 21,2001, when he was taken from his house naked, along with his wife Sonia and his brother.

Lotfi Raissi was charged with using a "false identity" having gone by the name "Fabrice Vincent Algier", and for conspiring to help Redouane Dahmani lie on his visa application.

In September 2003, Lotfi Raissi announced he was suing the FBI and the Department of Justice for $10 million over claims that his life had been ruined by his being branded a terrorist and that he was unable to find work.

Lotfi Raissi launched a civil suit against the Mail on Sunday for printing false information about criminal charges he faced, and citing the fact that airlines will not hire him because of the accusations against him.

On February 22,2007, Lotfi Raissi lost his case in the UK High Court to claim compensation for wrongful arrest and the 5 months he spent in Belmarsh Prison.

Lotfi Raissi took his case to the Court of Appeal and the High Court ruling was overturned, Appeal Judges stating that evidence showed the Crown Prosecution Service and the Police were responsible for "serious defaults".

Lotfi Raissi's case remains a contentious issue in Algeria, whose government refuses to sign an agreement with Britain about extraditing hijackers until Britain acknowledges that its treatment of Lotfi Raissi was flawed.

In February 2008, the UK Court of Appeal rejected this position, 'completely exonerated' Lotfi Raissi, and ordered British authorities to reconsider his entitlement to compensation, which had previously been rejected.