Career
He arrived as an illegal immigrant in the United Kingdom in 1997, having left Algeria to avoid national service. He was arrested on 19 September 2002 on suspicion of having the intent to poison as part of a terror attack in the United Kingdom, and was charged on 22 January 2003. Number evidence of production of the poison ricin was presented at the trial, which opened in September 2004 at the Old Bailey.
Sihali was acquitted of the charges in April 2005, but was re-arrested on 15 September 2005, and held as a terrorist suspect.
He is now awaiting extradition to Algeria. There is concern that he could be arrested and tortured if deported to Algeria.