The former prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, was barred from boarding a flight to Dhaka this afternoon after Bangladesh's authorities asked airlines to prevent her from returning home.
British Airways told Ms Hasina it would not be able to enter Bangladesh with her on the flight. "She's not flying, we're returning to London," Radwan Siddiq, Hasina's nephew, said.
A Dhaka court earlier issued an arrest warrant for Ms Hasina, who faces charges of murder linked to street battles between political opponents and extortion. The court labelled her an "absconder" and ordered police to confiscate her property if she did not surrender by May 28th, court officials said.
Ms Hasina, leader of the Awami League, has vowed to fight the charges and said she would board today's flight in defiance of an order by Bangladesh's army-backed government to stay away. It says her homecoming could trigger further violence.
Mr Siddiq said he did not know what Hasina's next move would be, but she was expected to stay with family in London for the foreseeable future. However, her ultimate intention was to return home to fight the charges against her.
"The number one priority is always that we will continue to fight this embargo," he said. "Sheikh Hasina has always said she wants to go back and fight these charges and clear her name."