Last detainee from Britain released from Guantanamo

Washington — Shaker Aamer, whose detention at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba attracted the attention of human rights lawyers, political leaders and rock stars, was freed Friday after more than 13 years in captivity, British officials announced. Aamer, a Saudi citizen and British resident, was flown to London.

Aamer’s transfer, which was confirmed by the British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, ends one of the best-known cases at the U.S. prison.

At its center was a charismatic, English-speaking detainee who has been the subject of intense dispute. Military officials have portrayed Aamer, 46, as a dangerous Islamist leader, while human rights advocates see him as a victim falsely accused of ties to terrorism. Now Aamer will be free to speak his mind in public.

In a statement issued through his lawyers after arriving at London Biggin Hill Airport, Aamer said he thanked everyone who worked for his release and wanted to “bring an end to Guantánamo.”

“My thanks go to Allah first, second to my wife, my family, to my kids and then to my lawyers who did everything they could to carry the word to the world,” he said. “I am overwhelmed by what people have done by their actions, their thoughts and their prayers, and without their devotion to justice I would not be here in Britain now.”

The release had been expected, after the Pentagon announced last month that Defense Secretary Ash Carter had approved a proposal to transfer Aamer.

Aamer was captured by the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan in late 2001 and turned over to the United States, which took him to its new wartime prison at Guantánamo Bay in February 2002. The U.S. government believed that he was involved with al-Qaida; it accused him of doing recruitment and finance work for the terrorist network while based in Britain, and of working for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and the rock stars Sting, Peter Gabriel and Roger Waters were among those who pushed for Aamer’s release. In letters sent to the BBC by his lawyers this month, Aamer described himself as “an old car that has not been to the garage for years,” and added that the first thing he wanted, once he was free, was a cup of coffee.