Express & Star

WATCH: Smethwick terror suspect's sons make emotional plea for father to be released after arrest by Interpol

The children of Black Country terror suspect Paramjeet Singh Saini have made a heartfelt plea for their father to be returned home.

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The youngsters have appeared in an emotional video in which they ask for their father to be allowed to return to his home in Smethwick.

Mr Saini is currently locked up in Portugal after being arrested by Interpol officers on a family holiday in the Algarve.

Indian authorities claim he was involved in the murder of a prominent Sikh politician and a bombing campaign in the north west of the country and are trying to extradite him to make him face charges but his family say he is nothing other than a devoted family man.

In the clip, which has been put together by campaigners trying to secure Mr Saini's release, nine-year-old Prabsimran says 'I want my dad to come home' before brother Gurbani, aged 10, adds 'we miss him a lot'.

Campaigners and politicians have been infuriated by Mr Saini's detention abroad as he has been granted asylum in the UK.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn entered the row this week, saying he was concerned about the situation.

Mr Saini is due to attend a hearing on January 26. His family fear they will never see him again if he is forced to return to India.

His wife Pinky Kaur told the Express & Star last week that their four children were struggling to cope without their father.

Smethwick councillor Preet Gill, who has been leading the campaign along with Warley MP John Spellar, said they are desperate for him to come home.

She said: "It is really important their dad, who they live and breathe, who is their whole life, is returned after the next hearing on January 26 and that justice is served."

She added: "I have spent considerable time with the children when I last saw Prabsimran he hugged me tight and I felt so emotional as without saying anything he expressed so much in that action.

"Whenever the children see me they come up to me and say 'your helping us get our dad back' I remain positive and say 'yes he will be back soon' in that moment there is hope for them and me too."

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