A SOLICITOR was released uninjured yesterday after police stormed an

interview room at a magistrates' court and seized a man accused of two

murders.

Mr Alistair Harper had been held at Lancaster for 21 hours before he

was released just before 10am when specially trained officers rushed

into the basement room and overpowered Mr Terrence Clifton.

Superintendent Ivan Howarth told a news conference outside the court:

''It was always our strategy to negotiate a peaceful release. That was

the way it was going to go until the situation became very delicate. We

decided it was appropriate to take another form of action. We put in a

specially trained unit of three men to effect Mr Harper's release.

''He has been released and he has no injuries. But he is obviously

very shaken. He has had a horrendous time in there.''

Mr Howarth said the three officers who stormed the interview room were

members of the Operation Support Unit. They had not been armed but were

trained in ''rapid entry'' techniques.

Mr Clifton, of no fixed address, was not believed to have been badly

injured apart from being winded. Mr Howarth said Mr Clifton was believed

to have been armed with three ''weapons'' -- a pen, a radio aerial, and

a sharp metal instrument.

''An inquiry is under way to see how he got hold of them,'' he said.

The drama began shortly after 1pm on Thursday when Mr Clifton, who is

a convert to Islam, was being interviewed by Mr Harper, 42, before a

remand appearance.

He is accused of murdering garage owner Mr Antonio Marrocco, 48, and

his business partner, Mr Paul Sandham, 28, in nearby Morecambe in

January. Mr Marrocco was found battered and stabbed to death in his

garage on January 24. Hours later, Mr Sandham's body was found in a

field. He had been stabbed more than 30 times.

Mr Howarth said Mr Clifton had threatened his solicitor during the

siege but it was not known what had prompted the incident.

Minutes before the drama ended, police said Mr Harper was ''bearing up

very well'', adding: ''He appears to be tired but coherent''.

Trained negotiators had been in touch with Mr Clifton and a Muslim

holy man was called in at Mr Clifton's request.

Mr Clifton, who had been brought from Walton Prison, Liverpool, is

understood to have been searched at the prison and when he arrived at

court. The ''sharp instrument'' is believed to have been the metal

binder from a document file.

Lancashire's assistant chief constable, Mr David Smith, said later

that officers moved into the interview room shortly before 10am.

''They overpowered the prisoner. The successful outcome was that Mr

Harper was released without harm to either of them. Mr Harper was shaken

by his ordeal.''

Later, Mr Harper was interviewed at a nearby police station but

declined to speak to reporters about his experience.

Mr Smith said: ''He does not feel able to speak to you directly. But

he has asked me to express his appreciation of the efforts of the police

and prison service in securing his release. His demeanour during his

ordeal has been exemplary.

''I wish to pay tribute to the calm way he disported himself. This was

a factor in bringing this to a successful resolution.''