Terrorist may win payout under EU law

A FOREIGN terrorist convicted of 22 murders is in line to win compensation after judges ruled the Government wrongly tried to kick him out of Britain.

They decided Home Secretary Amber Rudd erred legally by attempting to deport Antonio Troitino Arranz, pictured, because it breached EU rules.

The 60-year-old militant won his legal battle when a tribunal found he did not pose a serious threat to the UK – even though he blew up a bus full of police officers and committed other atrocities as part of the campaign by Basque separatist group ETA. He was extradited to Spain in May to face new charges after Madrid issued a European Arrest Warrant.

Now Arranz is set to receive damages over the Home Office’s unsuccessful attempt – in a parallel case – to throw him out of the UK.

The ruling by the Upper Immigration Tribunal will pile pressure on the Government to tear up rules which have left ministers powerless to throw out some of Europe’s worst offenders.

Tory MP Charlie Elphicke said: ‘It’s appalling that someone who has been convicted of 22 murders could not be deported from the country.

‘This case underlines why we cannot remain under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice after Brexit.’

The Home Office said it plans to appeal the decision.