MI5 agents 'tried to recruit Guantánamo detainees'

[sabra]

Source: UK telegraph

British spies tried to recruit men held in Guantánamo Bay and other US prison camps by offering to secure their return to the United Kingdom in exchange for information, according to a report.


The five detainees, who were publicly labelled a threat to world security, were allegedly approached by MI5 agents and promised early release if they promised to work on behalf of the security service.

The men, along with two other Guantánamo detainees, have been released and are seeking compensation from the Foreign Office, the Home Office, MI5 and MI6 and the Attorney General.

A report in The Independent claimed MI5 failed to honour the promises made by its agents, which were cleared by senior officers in London. The report cited an MI5 source which it said was "backed up by sworn testimony lodged in the High Court" by the detainees.

...

The newspaper claimed two MI5 officers, known as "Andrew and Officer B", tried to recruit detainee Richard Belmar while he was held by the Americans in Pakistan in 2002. It said Mr Belmar was told he would be returning to Britain within days but was instead transferred to Guantánamo Bay.

Another former detainee, Bisher Al Rawi, claims that MI5 officers called "Martin and Matt" visited him at Guantánamo to offer him a job working for the security services after his release. He claims they brought him a McDonald's meal and asked him to work for the security services in exchange for being released "within a few months", to which he agreed.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5283054/MI5-agents-tried-to-recruit-Guantanamo-detainees.html

[struggle4progress]

1. How MI5 attempted to recruit prison camp inmates (Independent)

Exposed: MI5's secret deals in Camp X-ray
How MI5 attempted to recruit prison camp inmates
Exclusive: By Robert Verkaik, Law Editor
Wednesday, 6 May 2009

... One of the men, Richard Belmar, was told he would be paid "well" for his services if he was willing to work undercover for MI5. A second detainee, Bisher Al Rawi, was told that if he agreed to work for the security service he would be "freed within months".

Three other detainees were threatened with rendition and harsh detention regimes if they did not co-operate with their British and American interrogators.

But MI5 failed to honour the promises made by its agents, a former agent has told The Independent.

The source, who is close to the MI5 officers who conducted the interviews, has confirmed that "assurances" had been given to the British men while they were held in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. But he said that senior officers in London had cleared the actions of its own officers but later reneged on the promises. This is backed up by sworn testimony lodged in the High Court from the former detainees ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exposed-mi5s-secret-deals-in-camp--xray-1679884.html

[bluesmail]

2. Cheney probably gets his psycho attendees from the prisons he holds interest in.

Malleable. Just the way he likes them.