Muslim dad stopped from going to US tells of family 'devastation'

Video report by Security Editor Rohit Kachroo

A British father whose family were barred from boarding a flight to the United States has denied that any of them are responsible for a Facebook account claiming links to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Mohammad Tariq Mahmood and his family were pulled from a queue at Gatwick airport and told they would not be able to fly to Los Angeles for a trip to Disneyland, though say they were not given a reason for the decision.

Since their story was initially reported, ITV News has discovered that a Facebook page claiming links to radical Islamist groups was set up by someone who has lived at the family's postal address.

The account, in the name of Hamza Hussain, lists the job titles "supervisor at Taliban and leader at al-Qaeda" - suggesting it may have been published as a joke.

Asked about the account, Mr Mahmood - whose son's name is also Hamza - said hackers may be to blame, adding: "That could be anything, maybe a mistake."

Downing Street says David Cameron is to respond to concerns over a British Muslim family barred from entering the United States for a holiday to Disneyland.

It comes after their local MP wrote the Prime Minister a letter, arguing the case - in which the family were given no explanation - raises "troubling questions".

Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, told the Guardian she wanted Mr Cameron to intervene after she "hit a brick wall" in attempts to get an explanation from US authorities.

Religion, faith and spiritual beliefs of travellers are "not determining factors" when deciding whether of not they are allowed to enter the United States, according to the country's Customs and Border Protection office.

A statement from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office, released in the wake of allegations that U.S. security officials refused to allow a British Muslim family of 11 to board a flight from Gatwick to Los Angeles to visit Disneyland, said:

A father whose family holiday to Disneyland in the US was cancelled at the last minute by border officials has told of their "devastation".

Fitness instructor Mohammad Tariq Mahmood was among 11 members of his family hoping to fly from Gatwick to Los Angeles - but told ITV News they were pulled from the queue to board the plane by a border control officer who asked to see their passports.

Read: US 'stops British Muslim family from flying to Disneyland'

He said the official told them there was a problem and said the airport had received a phone call from Washington, banning Mr Mahmood and his party from getting on the plane.

He told ITV News that he believes the reason was because they were Muslims - saying there was no other reason he could think of.

Nobody in his family had ever been arrested, had ever been involved in any terrorist organisation, or even been to Syria, he said.