British robber may be exchanged for terrorist.

According to the Kent News (UK), Lee Murray could soon be on his way back to Britain. As a key suspect in the £53 million Securitas robbery he could well be part of a prisoner exchange.

Back in June last year we reported how Murray was arrested in the Moroccan capital Rabat, with friend Paul "The Enforcer" Allen. (See our story here.) The arrests were a joint operation with Kent Police in connection with the £53 million Securitas raid - Britain's biggest cash robbery, in Tonbridge, Kent, which took place on 21 February 2006. Kent Police are seeking the extradition of Murray for questioning in connection with this robbery. No extradition treaty between the two countries exists. Murray, who has a Moroccan father, was arrested with friends who were found with a quantity of hashish and cocaine. If found guilty of this, Murray would need to serve time for it in Morocco first

It has now been reported Mr Murray could be returned to Britain in exchange for suspected terrorist Mohamed Karbouzi, who lives in London, and is wanted for questioning over bombs that killed more than 40 people in Casablanca in 2003. Spanish police also want to question him over the Madrid train bombings which killed 191 in 2004.

Derek Parker, Mr Murray's solicitor, said: "We know that during this meeting the Moroccan delegation requested the extradition of Karbouzi. I have been told by a legal source in Morocco that Lee is likely to be extradited, but we don't know when."

A spokeswoman for Kent Police would not comment on reports of the swap deal, saying only: "Extradition proceedings are underway."

Eleven people charged with robbery and kidnapping over the Tonbridge robbery are due to go on trial at the Old Bailey on April 16

Morocco has tried and convicted Karbouzi, 44, of terrorism in his absence but under UK law he is still innocent. If Karbouzi is sent to Morocco it would be an unprecedented move - Britain does not extradite people to countries with the death penalty. However, by April, the Moroccan death penalty may well be a thing of the past (See our story here)

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news