New details have emerged as to how airplane terror suspect Rashid Rauf escaped his jail captors in Pakistan. If this all wasn't so serious, it would belong in a comedy skit: Rauf's uncle allegedly convinced jail guards to let him drive the prisoner back to jail after a court hearing — in the uncle's personal van. First, the uncle took everyone out for fast food, and then to a mosque to pray. The guards took the handcuffs off the prisoner to make praying easier. And then — surprise — during the religious service, Rashid Rauf and his uncle slipped away.

‘Rashid Rauf escaped with his uncle’

ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: Rashid Rauf, the Briton suspected of a plane bombing plot who escaped from custody in Islamabad, got away after police let his uncle drive him back to jail following a court appearance, a security official said on Monday.

Rauf, a British national of Pakistan origin wanted for an alleged plan to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners, slipped away in unclear circumstances on Saturday after appearing in a court.

The latest details of his escape will likely come as further embarrassment for the government, which was considering a British request for Rauf’s extradition in an unrelated 2002 murder case.

The senior security official said Rauf’s uncle, Mohammad Rafiq, had convinced the two police escorts to make the drive back to jail in Rafiq’s more comfortable van — instead of in a police vehicle.

The official said that on the way to jail in Rawalpindi, Rauf asked for permission to stop at a fast-food restaurant — where the uncle bought a meal for all of them.

Then Rauf asked to visit a mosque for prayers, which was also allowed.

While the prayer service was going on Rauf and his uncle disappeared.

“Rauf’s uncle, who helped him escape from custody, has been arrested and is under interrogation,” the official said.

Rauf’s lawyer said on Monday another of his uncles had been arrested.

“I spoke to his family and they said two of his uncles have been arrested and his house in Bahawalpur was raided,” Hashmat Habib said.

The superintendent of the jail where Rauf was being held said the police escorts may have even unlocked his handcuffs when he went to pray.

“It is said that he asked permission to offer prayers and the two police officials who were escorting him allowed this,” said Mohsin Rafiq, superintendent of Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.

“It seems his handcuffs would have been removed to let him say his prayers,” Rafiq said. “It is sheer police negligence.” The two police escorts have also been detained for questioning.

The government has launched a nationwide manhunt for Rauf, and has established a committee to probe the escape — with an initial report requested by Tuesday.The British High Commission in Islamabad said it was in close touch with the Pakistani authorities about the escape.

“The High Commissioner spoke yesterday (Sunday) to the interim interior minister of Pakistan and was assured Rauf’s recapture was a priority for them and that they had set up an inquiry into how the escape had happened,” the spokesman said.

Arrested in Pakistan in August last year, Rauf was identified by Pakistani officials as a key figure in a plot to carry out suicide bombings on airliners travelling from London to the United States. 

According to an article in yesterday's The Times, Rashid Rauf is "regarded by Scotland Yard’s Counter-Terrorism Command as a key link between Pakistani militant groups and those in Britain sending young men for terror training in the tribal areas of Waziristan." 

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