Shaker Aamer is getting reacquainted with his wife and family, including a son he has never seen, after finally being freed from 13 years’ incarceration in Guantanamo Bay.

The UK’s last inmate of the US military prison on Cuba is now expected to receive £1 million in compensation.

Within hours of his arrival back in Britain, he paid an emotional tribute to those who had fought for his release, saying: "My thanks go to Allah first, second to my wife, my family, to my kids and then to my lawyers, who did everything they could to carry the word to the world. 

"I feel obliged to every individual, who fought for justice not just for me but to bring an end to Guantanamo."

He added: "Without knowing of their fight I might have given up more than once; I am overwhelmed by what people have done by their actions, their thoughts and their prayers and without their devotion to justice I would not be here in Britain now."

Earlier this year, US President Barack Obama promised to "prioritise" the Aamer case after David Cameron raised it in high-profile talks.

His release was met with a wave of delight and relief from his family, campaigners and politicians, all of whom have fought for years to secure the release of the 46-year-old Saudi national, who has never been charged with any offence.

Mr Aamer was flown back to Biggin Hill airport in London in a private jet, courtesy of the British taxpayer.

It is believed the father-of-four, said to suffer from arthritis and kidney problems, was taken to a local hospital for a medical check-up before being reunited with his family.

Mr Aamer’s youngest son Faris was born on the same day his father was imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay; Valentine's Day 2002. 

In 2001, Mr Aamer moved with his pregnant wife and young family to Afghanistan, where he claims he was working for a charity when he was seized by bounty hunters shortly after the 9/11 terror attacks on New York.

In February 2002, he was handed over to US forces and then transferred to Guantanamo Bay, accused of being a "close associate of Osama bin Laden," who had fought in the battle of Tora Bora. 

But in 2007 the allegations against him were dropped and he was cleared for release. Yet despite a formal request by the then Foreign Secretary David Miliband, the US authorities refused to release him.

During his time in captivity, Mr Aamer's lawyers claimed that he was subjected to torture with beatings and sleep deprivation and held in solitary confinement for 360 days. 

Saeed Siddique, Mr Aamer’s father-in-law, said his son-in-law’s release had been a surprise but that it was “a delightful day".

John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, who chairs the Shaker Aamer All-Party Parliamentary Group at Westminster, said he was delighted by the news, noting: "Shaker was simply a man in the wrong place at the wrong time; a charity worker building wells in Afghanistan, who was kidnapped, ransomed and falsely imprisoned.”

The London MP added that if there were any UK involvement in Mr Aamer’s detention, then “British intelligence…need to come clean on that; we need to get to the truth”.

Campaigners have spoken about their concerns that the ex-inmate will be tagged or monitored by the

UK security services upon his return. Downing Street made clear Mr Aamer was now a free man but noted that “everything necessary to ensure public safety has been put in place".

It is thought, Mr Aamer will now be in line for a seven-figure compensation pay-out.
In 2010, it was disclosed the UK Government had agreed a confidential settlement of civil damages claims brought by a number of detainees held at Guantanamo. 

The Prime Minister's spokeswoman, when asked about compensation, said: "There was a settlement in relation to detainees in 2010. That was subject to a legally-binding confidentiality agreement. I cannot go into details of who was party to it."

In letters, Mr Aamer has said he will not be sure how to respond to his name given he had been for more than a decade simply referred to as 239; his prison number.