A Bradford man caught up in an Israeli attack on a flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza was on his way home today.

Mohammed Bhaiyat, 26, of Great Horton, Bradford, was among 679 people taken prisoner during the Israeli military-led action which saw nine civilians killed.

His relieved father Ziauddin, 54, said his son had been released from the Be’er Sheva prison where he was being held.

Mohammed Bhaiyat was yesterday on a flight from Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv to Turkey, after being detained in Israel with 29 other British nationals following the seizure of the vessels on Sunday.

Ziauddin Bhaiyat spoke of his “great relief” after hearing his son was returning home following three days fearing for his safety.

He said: “This is great news, because we have all been so stressed out and worried what had happened to Mohammed. It is hard to describe in words what this has been like.”

Ebrar Khan, a family friend, has been in constant contact with the Foreign Office and watching news reports throughout the night.

He said he had also been in contact with Palestinian peace activists from the Friends of Al-Aqsa group, whose representatives had been part of the flotilla when Israeli troops stormed the Turkish vessel, the Mavi Marmara.

An activist from the group told him Mohammed Bhaiyat had been released.

“The uncertainty that has been hanging over our heads has now been lifted,” he said.

A Foreign Office spokesman said consular staff were at the Israeli airport and in Istanbul, Turkey yesterday afternoon to provide advice to the group.

Meanwhile, Khadim Hussain, president of the Bradford Council of Mosques, welcomed the widespread condemnation of the attack, which happened 85 nautical miles from the Gaza coast in International waters.

He said: “Bradford Council for Mosques will be formally writing to the Prime Minister, David Cameron and the Foreign Secretary, William Hague to convey our concerns.”

e-mail: marc.meneaud @telegraphandargus.co.uk.