THE family of Bolton aid volunteer Baboo Zanghar are planning a hero’s welcome after he was released and deported by the Israeli government.

Mr Zanghar, aged 43, from Halliwell, was one of 31 British citizens captured when Israeli commandos stormed a flotilla of Gaza-bound aid ships in international waters on Monday morning.

Mr Zanghar arrived in Turkey yesterday after being deported from Israel and was due to fly back to the UK last night.

His son, Naeem Adam, aged 23, of Perendale Rise, Astley Bridge, said he was relieved to hear his dad was safe.

He said: “I spoke to him this morning — he’s fine, he’s all right. He said there’s nothing to worry about, but once he gets here we can get the full story. The main thing is he’s safe.”

Nine people were killed when Israeli forces boarded the flotilla in international waters between Cyprus and Gaza.

Mr Zanghar was believed to be on the Mavi Marmara, the largest of six ships in the flotilla and the scene of the violence.

Mr Adam said: “The worst thing was the fact there was no communication. We didn’t know if he had been killed or injured.

“I think the way the Israelis handled it was very bad — they did it in a very nasty way.”

Mr Zanghar is married and has four children, two sons and two daughters.

When he returns, he is expected to join a group of campaigners who are travelling from Bolton to London to protest outside the Israeli embassy tomorrow.

They are planning a peaceful demonstration to further highlight what they are calling “the Gaza flotilla massacre”. Coaches will leave Bolton at 7am.

Bolton Interfaith Council yesterday issued a statement calling for an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

It said: “The Bolton Interfaith Council deplores the violence that prevented humanitarian aid from reaching the people of Gaza. We urge people of all faiths to petition for a peaceful resolution of the conflict over Palestinian land and the rights of Israeli people to live in peace.”

julian.thorpe@ theboltonnews.co.uk