Trained Afghan bomb-maker suspected of being a member of Al Qaeda to be freed from Guantanamo after 15 years

A trained bomb maker from Afghanistan who was once suspected of being a member of Al Qaeda is set to be freed from Guantanamo Bay.

The 37-year-old, known only as Obaidullah, was arrested in Khowst in 2002 along with two cousins after troops raided his home and found 23 landmines and detailed instructions on how to use them.

Now after 15 years behind bars he is due to be released after a Periodic Review Board (PBR) said he 'has not expressed any intent to re-engage in terrorist activities.'

After interrogating him, Army investigators ruled most of the latter part of his account to be false, saying he was deliberately evasive in his answers and retracted statements several times.

He was then linked to an Al Qaeda bomb cell, though his lawyers have denied these allegations.

He was charged in the military tribunals in September 2008 with conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism.

However, appeals courts have said can't be charged as war crimes at Guantanamo for conduct that occurred before 2006. 

The government dismissed the charges in 2011 and his lawyers have been pressing for his release ever since.

Obaidullah appeared before the PRB in April, part of an Obama administration attempt release some prisoners held without charge as part of the effort to close the prison in Cuba.

A press release on the Pentagon website says that while Obaidullah has 'failed to demonstrate sufficient candor' about his activities before his arrest, 'the risk the detainee presents can be adequately mitigated.'

It says: 'The Board noted that the detainee has not expressed any intent to re-engage in terrorist activities, has not espoused any anti-US sentiment that would indicate he views the US as his enemy, that neither the detainee nor his family have any ties to extremists outside of Guantanamo, and that the detainee has been mostly compliant while at Guantanamo. 

'The Board also considered the multiple letters of support for the detainee, to include the willingness to provide the detainee financial and integration support upon transfer, the detainee's efforts to take advantage of education opportunities while at Guantanamo, and the detainee's positive and constructive leadership in detention.'

While the release does not make it clear where Obaidullah will be released to, it says: 'Preferably to a country with an integration program, strong monitoring program, and an ability to keep the detainee productively engaged.'

There are 80 prisoners still held at Guantanamo, including 28 cleared for release. 

Daily mail