LONDON – An Algerian pilot accused of training the suicide hijackers who crashed into the Pentagon was ordered released on bail Tuesday after the United States said it would not seek his extradition on terrorist charges.
Lotfi Raissi, 27, was freed on $14,300 bond after spending five months in prison.
"I am satisfied that there is no likelihood of terrorist charges being preferred against Mr. Raissi in the near future," said Judge Timothy Workman.
The United States is still seeking to extradite Raissi on two charges of falsifying applications for a pilot's license.
Workman ordered Raissi to surrender his passport and not to leave the country as proceedings continue.
Raissi wept as the ruling was announced, and his wife Sonia smiled broadly.
Raissi's lawyers say prosecutors have failed to present evidence to back up their claim that Raissi had links to Hani Hanjour, the pilot suspected of crashing Flight 77.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox