A popular Afghan student who is facing deportation says he has been overwhelmed by support as he battles to stay in the UK.

Eastern Daily Press: From left to right in the photo: Dame Kelly Holmes, Murad Khan, Andrew Hall, chief executive of AQA, and Ross Davenport, Murad's mentor.From left to right in the photo: Dame Kelly Holmes, Murad Khan, Andrew Hall, chief executive of AQA, and Ross Davenport, Murad's mentor. (Image: Archant)

Murad Khan was seized from his east coast home on Sunday and taken to a detention centre, sparking an immediate campaign for his release from friends, fellow students and teachers at East Norfolk Sixth Form College.

The 18-year-old was released from Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre, near Lincoln, on Thursday night after an appeal was lodged, but the threat of being sent back to danger in Afghanistan is still hanging over him as the Home Office consider his case.

Since returning home to Lowestoft he has been inundated with messages of support and said he had been 'touched' by the response.

He said: 'The amount of people who have offered their help and support, I'm over the moon. There's been a lot of support and hopefully that will continue.'

Murad's father was killed in Afghanistan and he has no remaining family that he knows of. He arrived in the UK illegally around five years ago and since settling on the east coast has gone on to excel both in and out of the classroom.

The teen said he did not want to return to Afghanistan as there is 'nothing' there for him.

He said Morton Hall was not a 'nice experience' and he sorely missed his friends and being at college for the five days he was there.

Murad is now focusing on his community work with Suffolk County Council, as part of a team that organises half term activities for children in foster care.

But a cloud of uncertainty is hanging over him as government officials decide his future.

'I know the amount of people who have helped me and I just want to do the same for others who are vulnerable and need support,' he added.

'I'm hoping it [the appeal] going to be a positive result but you never know. This is English laws and there's lots of different laws so you never know exactly what's going to happen, there's still a chance they might deport me.'

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