Police are hunting for a Hounslow terror suspect who has escaped from hospital.

The Met Police Counter Terrorism Command today released a photo and description of Zeeshan Siddiqui, 26, who absconded while on a control order last September.

In a statement, the Met said it had decided to reveal Siddiqui's identity to help in the hunt to find him.

It comes hours after the BBC claimed it had won a court case allowing details of his identity and alleged participation in a terror plot to be revealed.

The Met said Siddiqui escaped on September 27 last year and that "immediate steps were made to trace him and these inquiries continue".

"Anonymity orders are assessed on a case-by-case basis," the statement says.

"At the time Siddiqui absconded, we said it was our considered view that there was a clear operational advantage to the anonymity order remaining and substantial operational disadvantage in removing it.

"Active lines of inquiry were being pursued to find this individual.

"As we said at the time this position has been kept under review."

A Met Police spokesman said Siddiqui had not been charged with any offence so no further details would be released.

He said the force had not specific information about his whereabouts or whether he was still in the country.

Siddiqui was born in the UK in November 1980.

He is 5ft 9in, slim build, with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone who sees Siddiqui should not approach him, but should call 999 immediately, the Met says.

Anyone with other relevant information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.