Five Indian doctors in Australia quizzed by police in connection with the failed UK terror plot were released on the grounds that they would be available for further questioning. The detention of Mohammed Haneef continued because he was "intent on" leaving the country on a one-way ticket, the Attorney General said.
"It's not a question of whether people are in the clear or not, it's a question of whether or not you have come to a view that they would continue to be available for questioning that might arise during the course of the inquiry," Philip Ruddock, the Attorney General, was quoted as saying by The Australian.
"The distinguishing factor in relation to Haneef from the others was that he was intent on leaving Australia... he had a one-way ticket," he said.
He said, "There are explanations that have been offered by his family for that but what I think what the police have wanted to ensure is that he would continue to be available for the questioning that they're undertaking."
Another doctor working at the Gold Coast Hospital was also questioned early last week but had been cleared and released.
Ruddock also played down a report suggesting that there was a plan for bombs in Britain to be activated by phone from Australia.
"It probably mis-states what is in the public arena," he said adding "that is that some of the people who had been in the United Kingdom who had now come to Australia as temporary residents left behind telephones and SIM cards which other people were using.
"I'm not sure there is a direct connection but look, I wouldn't want to foreclose any avenue of inquiry that the police are taking," Ruddock said.
Police have questioned a total of seven doctors in Australia. They are Haneef, who is still in custody, another doctor from the Gold Coast Hospital who was cleared and released, four doctors questioned and released in Western Australia and one physician quizzed and freed in New South Wales. All but the NSW doctor, whose identity was not disclosed, are Indians.
