Scots militant ‘threatened to poison Gordon Brown’

A SELF-STYLED militant separatist is to be extradited to Scotland over claims he threatened to poison former prime minister Gordon Brown and contaminate water supplies to English cities.
It is claimed that Busby sent poisonous or noxious substances to Gordon Brown. Picture: GettyIt is claimed that Busby sent poisonous or noxious substances to Gordon Brown. Picture: Getty
It is claimed that Busby sent poisonous or noxious substances to Gordon Brown. Picture: Getty

Adam Busby, 64, has been told by a judge in Dublin that he will have to return to his homeland to face the terrorist charges.

The founder of the Scottish National Liberation Army had fought attempts to extradite him since being arrested over seven offences in 2010. It is claimed Busby made hoax calls to media groups in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and to the ­Samaritans.

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He allegedly threatened “to contaminate the drinking water supplies of major English towns and cities with a noxious ­substance”.

It is also claimed that he told a newspaper packages containing caustic, poisonous or other noxious substances had been sent to various political leaders, including Mr Brown, who was prime minister at the time.

The warrant further alleges that Busby contacted news groups in 2010 to claim that bombs had been placed at various bridges, including the Forth Road Bridge and Erskine Bridge.

Busby is also accused of phoning the Glasgow branch of the Samaritans and claiming a bomb was placed at the city’s Hilton Hotel.

Busby was arrested at his bedsit in Dublin. He has multiple sclerosis and appeared in court in a wheelchair.

He argued that, as he had been resident in Ireland for 30 years, he should be tried there and ­removal to Scotland would ­interfere with his family life.

He also said that he would face a much higher penalty in the UK, than if he were prosecuted in Ireland.

He argued that the application amounted to an abuse of process as the authorities had previously sought to prosecute him on similar offences.

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However, at the High Court in Dublin, Mr Justice Edwards said that the fact he was going to be exposed to a higher penalty in Scotland would not constitute an abuse of process.

He said that it was legitimate to argue that because the results of his alleged actions were felt in Scotland, the Scots could legitimately claim jurisdiction.

Ordering the surrender of Busby under the European ­arrest warrant, he said: “What was done, if done as alleged, was ­intended to terrorise.”

Busby, originally from Paisley, Renfrewshire, moved to Ireland in 1980. He is also wanted in the US for making alleged bomb threats to the University of Pittsburgh last year. Yesterday, prosecutors in the US said that they want him extradited there after the Scottish case has reached a conclusion.

US attorney David J Hickton said: “We, together with the ­Office of International Affairs, have been actively monitoring proceedings in Ireland and co-ordinating with authorities in both Ireland and Scotland.

“We remain interested in extraditing Adam Busby to hold him responsible for the indicted crimes here and have taken ­active steps to secure his ­presence.

“We stand in line behind Scotland, which has a prior interest and rights to proceed with Mr. Busby for crimes committed there.”

In Pittsburgh, Busby was charged last year with 20 counts of wire fraud, 16 counts of maliciously conveying false information, two counts of international extortion and one count of threatening a federal officer.