Reuters : Police search for couple over MI6 worker's death

Monday, September 06, 2010

Police search for couple over MI6 worker's death

By Michael Holden | September 6, 2010

LONDON (Reuters) - Police investigating the death of a man who worked for the Secret Intelligence Service MI6 said on Monday they were trying to trace a couple who had called at his flat about a month before he was found dead.

Gareth Williams, 30, was found by police on August 23 at his top floor flat in Pimlico, central London, not far from the spy agency's headquarters, after he was reported missing.

Officers found his naked body in a zipped and padlocked holdall in an empty bath.

Detectives said on Monday that toxicology tests had shown no trace of alcohol or recreational drugs in his body. Nothing was believed to have been stolen from the flat and there was no sign of any forced entry or disturbance inside, they added.

Forensic and further tests on the body are continuing.

"This remains a complex, unexplained death enquiry," said Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire from Scotland Yard's Homicide and Serious Crime Command who is leading the investigation.

Williams was working for MI6, which deals with foreign espionage matters, on secondment from the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the government's eavesdropping service.

The Foreign Office has made no comment on the death, saying it did not make statements about anyone who might work for the intelligence agencies.

Detectives said they wanted to identify a man and a woman, both of Mediterranean appearance, aged between 20 and 30, who had called at the property late one evening in June or July.

They also issued closed circuit television footage of Williams, who returned to Britain from a holiday in the United States on August 11, on shopping trips in the West End and Knightsbridge areas of London a week before his body was found.

The mysterious circumstances surrounding Williams' death has prompted some experts to question whether he was targetted because of the nature of his work.

"In my own opinion, a murder of this kind bears all the hallmarks of a professional killing and not a rage attack," said Professor Anthony Glees, Director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham.

"It looks increasingly to me that a hostile intelligence service was responsible. To me this looks like a Russian job -- they have killed in London before -- but it could also be an Iranian one."

However, the fact that the inquiry is being carried out by the homicide unit indicates that police do not believe the death to be related to terrorism or espionage matters.

(Editing by Steve Addison)

Telegraph : MI6 spy Gareth Williams murder: police probe poisoning theory

Monday, September 06, 2010

MI6 spy Gareth Williams murder: police probe poisoning theory

Richard Edwards and Duncan Gardham | September 6, 2010

A mystery "Mediterranean” couple are being hunted by police over the suspected murder of Gareth Williams, the British spy, while inquiries focus on whether he was poisoned at his London home.

As Scotland Yard yesterday made the first detailed appeal about the death of the MI6 worker, speculation grew that he was the victim of a professional hit which left no trace of how he was killed.

Detectives believe that poisoning is now a most likely cause of death and are carrying out further tests for toxic substances, after almost all other possibilities were ruled out.

There was no evidence of a struggle at the Pimlico flat where the naked body of the 31-year-old was found inside a padlocked bag in his bath, no signs of a break in and police said that nothing was taken.

However detectives are trying to trace an unidentified man and woman, described as being of Mediterranean appearance and aged between 20-30, who visited the house late at night in the weeks or months before Mr Williams died.

They are the only people unaccounted for who have been seen recently at the property in Alderney Street. Neighbours told police they were let into the communal front door, late one evening, either in June or July.

It is believed they were visiting Mr Williams, but on one has been able to shed any light on their identity. Detectives want them to come forward to eliminate them from the inquiry.

Separately, police are also investigating whether a second key was cut for the apartment.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan police disclosed the last known images of the spy, captured on CCTV, as he shopped in Harrods and central London.

After drawing a blank from their own inquiries during the past fortnight, detectives yesterday asked the public to help over the death of Mr Williams, who was at the end of a secondment to MI6 from GCHQ, the Government listening post.

But the appeal only furthered the mystery surrounding a case which detectives admit has left them “baffled”.

CCTV images released yesterday, revealing the spy's last known movements, appeared to show him walking around London in a carefree and relaxed manner.

He was captured on successive days the weekend before his death wearing the same clothes – a red T-shirt, beige trousers and white trainers – as he wandered around the West End and Knightsbridge.

He was also seen catching a Tube in Holland Park, west London. Police are unclear as to why he visited that area, but believe he stayed at his own home and not at a friends.

The last CCTV sighting of Mr Williams is on Sunday, August 15, when he went into Harrods and walked towards Sloane Street, near the Dolce and Gabbana store.

Eight days later, when he failed to turn up for his first day back from holiday on August 23, police went round to his home at 36 Alderney Street.

Inside the neat flat, officers discovered the 31-year-old's naked body, zipped and padlocked into a red North Face bag in his ensuite bathroom. There was no water or other liquid in the bath.

Although Mr Williams was unclothed, it is believed the items he was wearing on the day he died had not been removed from the scene.

Contrary to early reports, his mobile phone sim cards were not laid out in any sort of “ritualistic” way.

Lurid suggestions that bondage equipment was found, that the victim had links to male escorts or was a cross-dresser have all been dismissed as “complete garbage” by police sources.

The Met said yesterday: “There was no sign of any forced entry to the property, and no signs of disturbance inside. We do not believe there is any property missing from the flat. There is no suggestion the items within the flat were specifically posed. No drugs, or indications of drug usage were recovered.”

The greatest mystery, however, surrounds the “fit and strong” young man died.

A first post mortem was inconclusive. A further examination found no marks around his neck or elsewhere on his body to suggest he was smothered or asphyxiated.

Toxicology tests have no found no evidence of recreational drugs in his body, such as alcohol, cocaine or heroin, or other basic drugs. Tests are being run into a range of other possible poisons, such as strychnine.

Asphyxiation remains an option but sources said it was difficult to kill someone by such means without leaving bruises.

Detectives drew a blank after probing all friends and associates of the Cambridge-educated mathematician, who was described as a loner with few social contacts even among his work colleagues. This may have contributed to his body lying undiscovered for up to eight days.

The only people now unexplained and unaccounted for in the inquiries are the “Mediterranean” couple.

There are suggestions Mr Williams may have been “hit” by a foreign spy agency.

One source said that although assassination was a possibility, it was only one of several, and they still believe the “reality may be more mundane”.

Reports that Mr Williams was a high-flyer who secretly oversaw top secret Transatlantic projects have been played down and his role at GCHQ was that of a "middleranking civil servant".

It is believed he was due to return Cheltenham to join a unit fighting cyber-crime, especially hackers targeting banks. Police are reluctant even to describe the cipher expert as a spy, or even to confirm he died as a result of a murder, and still consider it an “unexplained death”.

Det Chf Insp Jacqueline Sebire, who is leading the investigation, said: "I would appeal to anyone who may have seen, or had contact with Gareth in the period between 11th and 23rd August to come forward and speak with us at the Incident Room on 0208 358 0200, or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

"This remains a complex unexplained death enquiry."

Canadian Press : 2 people wanted in inquiry into mystery slaying of British spy at his London home

Monday, September 06, 2010

2 people wanted in inquiry into mystery slaying of British spy at his London home

By David Stringer (CP) | September 6, 2010

LONDON — Detectives investigating the mysterious death of a British intelligence official said Monday they are hunting for two people seen entering his apartment building in recent weeks.

Gareth Williams, a 30-year-old official at GCHQ, Britain's eavesdropping and code-breaking agency, was discovered dead at his central London apartment on Aug. 23. His naked remains were found inside a locked sports bag.

Williams was working on attachment to the MI6 spy agency at the time of his death, but security officials believe it is unlikely that his killing was connected with his work.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said the visitors, a man and a woman, were "both of Mediterranean appearance, aged between 20 and 30 years old," and had been seen at the apartment block in the Pimlico district one night in June or July.

"This remains a complex unexplained death inquiry," Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire said.

No cause of death has been established, and it is also not known exactly when Williams died.

A hearing at Westminster Coroner's Court was told by police last week that the corpse appeared to be in an advanced state of decay. Officers said Monday the red bag containing Williams' body had been placed in an empty bathtub.

Investigators said Williams was filmed on surveillance cameras on Aug. 11, shopping in London's West End and at the Harrods department store. Police are attempting to establish Williams' movements between the shopping trip and his death.

Officers confirmed there was no sign of any forced entry to the apartment where Williams lived, and said nothing appeared to have been disturbed or stolen.

Initial tests did not reveal any trace of "routine or recreational drugs" or alcohol in Williams' body, but testing for other substances is continuing, the Scotland Yard statement said.

Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Toronto Sun : Witnesses sought in MI6 murder case

Monday, September 06, 2010

Witnesses sought in MI6 murder case

By Tim Gaynor, Reuters | September 6, 2010

Police investigating the death of a man who worked for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service MI6 said on Monday they were trying to trace a couple who had paid a visit to his flat about a month before he was found dead.

Gareth Williams, 30, was found by police on Aug. 23 at his top floor flat in Pimlico, central London, not far from the spy agency's headquarters, after he was reported missing.

Officers found his naked body in a zipped and padlocked holdall bag in an empty bath.

Detectives said on Monday that toxicology tests had shown no trace of alcohol or recreational drugs in his body. Nothing was believed to have been stolen from the flat and there was no sign of any forced entry or disturbance inside, they added.

Forensic and additional tests on the body are continuing.

"This remains a complex, unexplained death enquiry," said Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire from Scotland Yard's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, who is leading the investigation.

Williams was working for MI6, which deals with foreign espionage matters, on secondment from the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the government's eavesdropping service.

The Foreign Office has made no comment on the death, saying it did not make statements about anyone who might work for the intelligence agencies.

Detectives said they wanted to identify a man and a woman, both of Mediterranean appearance, aged between 20 and 30, who had visited the property late one evening in June or July.

They also issued closed circuit television footage of Williams, who returned to Britain from a holiday in the United States on Aug. 11, on shopping trips in the West End and Knightsbridge areas of London a week before his body was found.

The mysterious circumstances surrounding Williams' death have prompted some experts to question whether he was targeted because of the nature of his work.

"In my own opinion, a murder of this kind bears all the hallmarks of a professional killing and not a rage attack," said Professor Anthony Glees, Director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham.

"It looks increasingly to me that a hostile intelligence service was responsible. To me this looks like a Russian job -- they have killed in London before -- but it could also be an Iranian one."

However, the fact that the inquiry is being carried out by the homicide unit indicates that police do not believe the death to be related to terrorism or espionage matters.

This Is London : Last pictures of Gareth Williams, the spy found naked inside a padlocked bag

Monday, September 06, 2010

Last pictures of Gareth Williams, the spy found naked inside a padlocked bag

Justin Davenport, Crime Editor | September 6, 2010

These are the dramatic last images of MI6 codebreaker Gareth Williams days before he was found padlocked in a sports holdall in his flat.

The CCTV pictures show the spy dressed casually and shopping in Knightsbridge and Kensington after returning from a holiday in America.

They were released by Scotland Yard today as detectives appealed for information on a mystery couple who called at his house in Pimlico and were let in through the communal door.

Detectives also revealed further details about Mr Williams's death, saying that he was naked and his body had been zipped and padlocked inside a red North Face hold-all.

The bag had been placed in an empty bath in the en-suite bathroom of his top floor MI6 flat in Alderney Street.

Police said toxicology results had shown that the 31-year-old body contained no trace of alcohol or drugs. There was also no obvious sign that he had been smothered or asphyxiated and further tests are being made.

Detectives also revealed that, contrary to some reports, there was no evidence of anything missing from the flat and no signs of a disturbance. Police said there was no suggestion that items in the flat had been specifically arranged and there were no drugs or signs of drug use.

Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire, who is leading the inquiry, said: “We are appealing for anyone who saw or had any contact with Gareth between August 11 and the day his body was found on August 23. This remains a complex, unexplained death inquiry.”

Detectives are trying to trace a man and a woman of Mediterranean appearance who called at 36 Alderney Street late one evening in June or July and were buzzed in through the communal door. Police refused to give further details.

The revelation that Mr Williams was naked inside the bag will add to suspicions that his death was sex-related.

The GCHQ employee, an expert in ciphers and code-breaking, was on a year's secondment to MI6 when he was found dead. Police have so far refused to classify the case as murder but theories for his death range from an assassination by a rival secret service to a sex game that went wrong.

The CCTV images show Mr Williams, wearing a red T-shirt, beige trousers and white trainers, shopping in the West End and Knightsbridge, including Harrods.

Police said Mr Williams had returned to the UK from a holiday in the US on Wednesday August 11. One image shows him entering Holland Park underground station at about 3pm on Saturday August 14.

The next day cameras caught him shopping in Brompton Road. He is seen going to a cash machine and then to Harrods. Later, at about 2.30pm, he was just outside Harrods in Hans Crescent and then heading towards Sloane Street, near the Dolce and Gabbana store. This was the last known sighting of him.

Mr Williams was found by police in his flat on August 23. There was no sign of any forced entry to the property, and no signs of disturbance inside.

Police said they were still carrying out “extensive“ forensic tests on the flat as well as samples taken from the post-mortem examination. They added that although they had found no trace of alcohol or recreational drugs, testing for other substances continues.

Anyone with information should call police on 020 8358 0200 or, anonymously, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Guardian : Police issue CCTV footage of dead MI6 worker

Monday, September 06, 2010

Police issue CCTV footage of dead MI6 worker

Gareth Williams is pictured at tube station nine days before body was found, as police seek man and woman seen at flats

Caroline Davies | September 6, 2010

MI6 officer Gareth Williams was filmed on CCTV at Holland Park tube station in west London nine days before his body was found in a holdall in his Pimlico flat.

The last known images of the MI6 code-breaker Gareth Williams, found dead in a padlocked holdall in his bath, were released by detectives today, as they made a public appeal for information about his death.

CCTV pictures show the Cambridge-educated mathematician, seconded from the government communications headquarters (GCHQ) to MI6, shopping in central London, including at Harrods, shortly after returning from a holiday in America.

The images were released as police appealed for witnesses who may have seen Williams, 30, from Anglesey, before his body was discovered at the MI6-owned flat where he was living in Pimlico on 23 August.

They also wish to trace a mystery couple, said to have visited the Alderney Street premises where he had the top-floor flat, in the late evening on an undisclosed date in June or July. Said to be "of Mediterranean appearance" and in their 20s or 30s, the two were buzzed in through the communal door to the house.

Postmortem results have so far failed to establish a cause of death, other than to find that Williams does not appear to have been shot or stabbed. There are also no obvious signs of strangulation.

Scotland Yard revealed that he was unclothed when discovered inside a zipped and padlocked red holdall in the empty bath in his ensuite bathroom.

Toxicology test results show no traces of alcohol, or of routine or recreational drugs. A Metropolitan police spokesman said: "Testing for other substance continues."

There was no sign of forced entry to Williams's flat or of any disturbance inside. Nor did it appear that any property was missing. "There is no suggestion the items within the flat were specifically posed," said the spokesman.

The mystery surrounding the death, which the police so far have refused to classify as murder, has led to intense speculation ranging from theories relating to his work as a ciphers and code-breaking expert, to rumours about his private life.

Described as 5ft 7in tall with short hair and of muscular build, Williams, who was not married and was said to be a "very private person", was days away from completing a one-year secondment to the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service MI6 in Vauxhall, London, when his body was found.

He had returned to the UK from a holiday in the US on Wednesday, 11 August, said police. In one CCTV image he is seen, wearing a red T-shirt, beige trousers and white trainers, entering Holland Park underground station at about 3pm on Saturday, August 14.

The next day he is shown shopping in Brompton Road, where he visited a cash machine and Harrods department store. Later, at about 2.30pm, he is seen just outside Harrods in Hans Crescent before heading towards Sloane Street, near the Dolce and Gabbana store. This was the last known sighting of him.

Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire, who is leading the investigation, said: "This remains a complex, unexplained death inquiry." She appealed for anyone who may have seen or had contact with Williams between 11 and 23 August to contact the incident room on 020-8358 0200, or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.

In a statement shortly after his body was found, Williams's family described rumours suggesting his sex life might hold the clues to his death as "very distressing".

They paid tribute to him as a "generous, loving son, brother, and friend" and a very private person, who was "a great athlete, and loved cycling and music".

UK Wired : Police appeal over death of MI6 worker Gareth Williams

Monday, September 06, 2010

Police appeal over death of MI6 worker Gareth Williams

September 6, 2010

Police investigating the death of MI6 worker Gareth Williams have appealed for help in tracing two people seen entering his central London flat.

Mr William's body was found in bag in the bathroom of his Pimlico flat by police on 23 August.

Detectives have also issued images of Mr Williams, who was last seen on CCTV on 15 August.

A post-mortem examination established no obvious cause of death. Forensic tests at the flat continue.

Telegraph : MI6 spy Gareth Williams: police statement in full

Monday, September 06, 2010

MI6 spy Gareth Williams: police statement in full

By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent | September 6, 2010

Here is the Scotland Yard statement on the death of Gareth Williams in full.

A British spy who was found dead in the bath of a flat in London was stabbed several times before his body was stuffed into a sports bag where it lay decomposing for up to two weeks.

A Metropolitan Police spokseman said: "Mr Williams returned to the UK from a planned holiday in the US on Wednesday 11th August 2010. On his return we have established from CCTV enquiries, that on a number of occasions he was shopping in the West End and Knightsbridge areas.

"The CCTV images are of Mr Williams on Saturday 14.08.10 at approx 3pm entering Holland Park underground station.

"On Sunday 15.08.10 Mr Williams was shopping in Brompton Road, SW7. He went to a cash machine, and then into Harrods. At approx 2.30pm CCTV images show him in Hans Crescent, SW1 heading towards Sloane Street, near to the Dolce and Gabbana store. He was wearing a red t shirt, beige trousers, and white trainers. Mr Williams was approx 5"7, with short hair and of a muscular build.

"Officers are also appealing for information to identify a man and a woman, both of Mediterranean appearance, aged between 20 - 30 years old, who called at 36 Alderney Street in June or July, late one evening. They were let into the communal front door.

"Mr Williams was found in his flat at Flat 4, 36 Alderney Street, Pimlico, SW1 on 23.08.10 by uniformed officers. There was no sign of any forced entry to the property, and no signs of disturbance inside.

"Mr Williams was found unclothed, in a zipped and padlocked red North Face holdall which was in an empty bath in the en suite bathroom.

"We do not believe there is any property missing from the flat. There is no suggestion the items within the flat were specifically posed. No drugs, or indications of drug usage were recovered.

"A post mortem held at Westminster Mortuary on 25.08.10 established no obvious cause of death.

"Extensive forensic tests at the flat in Alderney Street and from the samples taken at the post mortem continue.

"Initial indications from the toxicology examinations show no trace of any alcohol or routine or recreational drugs. Testing for any other substance continues.

"Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire, Homicide and Serious Crime Command leading the investigation said: 'I would appeal to anyone who may have seen, or had contact with Gareth in the period between 11th and 23rd August to come forward and speak with us at the Incident Room on 0208 358 0200, or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. This remains a complex unexplained death enquiry.'"

Telegraph : MI6 spy Gareth Williams murder: police hunt for Mediterranean couple

Monday, September 06, 2010

MI6 spy Gareth Williams murder: police hunt for Mediterranean couple

By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent | September 6, 2010

Detectives investigating the murder of Gareth Williams, the British MI6 spy, are seeking a young Mediterranean couple seen at his block of flats in London.

Scotland Yard are trying to trace the unidentified man and woman, aged between 20-30, who visited the Pimlico house late at night, one or two months before Mr Williams died. It is believed they may have been visiting the spy at his top flat home but have not been seen since.

In the first detailed public appeal about the death of the MI6 worker, Metropolitan police detectives also disclosed the 31-year-old's last known movements, captured on CCTV, as he shopped in Harrods and central London a week before his body was found.

Mystery remains, however, over how exactly Mr Wiliams died. Police said he was found naked, zipped and padlocked into a bag in his bath. A post mortem has established no obvious cause of death and toxicology tests have found no evidence of drugs in his body, police revealed.

Police are working on the assumption that Mr Williams was either smothered or poisoned and "testing for any other substance continues".

Detectives also revealed in a statement that there was no sign of forced entry to the property in Pimlico where he was found, no signs of disturbance inside the flat, and that nothing was taken.

The only people believed to be unaccounted for in recent months who were seen at the flats on Alderney Street are the Mediterranean man and woman. Police have been told they were let into the communal front door, late one evening, either in June or July. Detectives want to trace them to eliminate them from the inquiry.

The Cambridge-educated mathematician had returned home from a holiday in America on August 11. Over the next few days he was captured on CCTV shopping in the West End and Knightsbridge, and catching a Tube in Holland Park, west London. He is seen in a red T-shirt, beige trousers and white trainers, carrying a shopping bag.

The last CCTV sighting of him is on Sunday, August 15, when he went into Harrods and walked towards Sloane Street, near the Dolce and Gabbana store.

Police found his body in the bath, after being alerted by MI6 staff when he failed to turn up to work, on the afternoon of Monday, August 23.

Det Chf Insp Jacqueline Sebire, Homicide and Serious Crime Command leading the investigation said: "I would appeal to anyone who may have seen, or had contact with Gareth in the period between 11th and 23rd August to come forward and speak with us at the Incident Room on 0208 358 0200, or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

"This remains a complex unexplained death enquiry."

Channel 4 : New police appeal over MI6 code-breaker's death

Monday, September 06, 2010

New police appeal over MI6 code-breaker's death

By Channel 4 News | September 6, 2010

Detectives investigating the death of the MI6 code breaker Gareth Williams, whose decomposing body was found in a bath, have released new CCTV images and appealed for help to trace two people seen near his London home.

The video and stills photographs show Mr Williams, who was working for the MI6 secret intelligence service, shopping in central London in August.

The Metropolitan Police said they needed the public's help to identify a man and a woman, both of Mediterranean appearance and aged between 20 and 30, who were let into the communal entrance of Mr Willams' flat in Pimlico, central London, late one evening in June or July.

Detectives said they had not found drugs or drugs paraphernalia at the flat and nothing appeared to be missing. Mr Williams had returned to Britain from a holiday in the US on 11 August. The police have established from the CCTV images that he went shopping on a number of occasions in the West End and Knightsbridge.

On 15 August, he visited Harrods dressed in a red T-shirt, beige trousers and white trainers.

Mr Williams' naked body was discovered padlocked in a North Face holdall bag in the bath of his flat on 23 August. There was no sign of any forced entry or disturbance.

A post mortem examination held on 25 August failed to establish any obvious cause of death. Extensive forensic tests at the flat and from the samples taken at the post mortem continue.

The Metropolitan police said they wanted to talk to anyone who had been in contact with 30-year-old Mr Williams between 11 and 23 August.

In a statement shortly after his body was found, Mr Williams' family dismissed rumours suggesting the GCHQ codes expert was involved in risky sexual practices, saying they had been "very distressing".

Sun : MI6 death cops release CCTV

Monday, September 06, 2010

MI6 death cops release CCTV

By STAFF REPORTER | September 6, 2010

COPS investigating the death of British code-breaker Gareth Williams have today released CCTV footage of him.

Officers hope it will encourage members of the public who may have witnessed his last known movements to contact them.

The 30-year-old MI6 worker's naked decomposing body was found in a holdall in the bath at his flat in Pimlico, Central London, on August 23 after he failed to appear at work for several days.

In the footage, Mr Williams is seen entering Holland Park Underground station at about 3pm on Saturday August 14.

Scotland Yard officers also want to identify a man and a woman, both of Mediterranean appearance, who appear in separate footage shot from the communal entrance of Mr Williams's block of flats.

The pair were let into the block late one evening in June or July.

Mr Williams was days from completing a one-year secondment to the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, in Vauxhall, London.

Police said he had returned from a planned holiday in the United States on Wednesday August 11 and went shopping "on a number of occasions" in the West End and Knightsbridge areas.

On Sunday August 15, he went to a cash machine and then to Harrods before CCTV images show him in Hans Crescent, heading towards Sloane Street, near the Dolce and Gabbana store, at about 2.30pm.

Mr Williams, who was 5ft 7in and of muscular build with short hair, was wearing a red T-shirt, beige trousers and white trainers.

Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire, who is leading the inquiry, said: "I would appeal to anyone who may have seen or had contact with Gareth in the period between August 11 and 23 to come forward and speak with us.

"This remains a complex unexplained death inquiry."

A police spokesman said today no drugs, or indications of drug usage, were recovered from Mr Williams's flat.

Police said post-mortem examinations found "no obvious cause of death" and initial indications from toxicology tests showed no trace of any alcohol or routine or recreational drugs.

Testing for other substances continues.

Independent : Police appeal over couple seen near spy Gareth Williams' flat

Monday, September 06, 2010

Police appeal over couple seen near spy Gareth Williams' flat

PA | September 6, 2010

Police investigating the death of British code-breaker Gareth Williams today appealed for help to trace two people seen near his Government flat.

Scotland Yard want to identify a man and a woman, both of Mediterranean appearance and aged between 20 and 30, who were let into the communal entrance of Mr Williams' flat in Pimlico, central London, late one evening in June or July.

His decomposing naked body was found padlocked shut in a holdall in a bath in the top floor flat by officers who broke in on August 23 after Mr Williams failed to appear at work for several days.

Today, officers released CCTV footage of him as they appealed for the public's help.

It showed the 30-year-old entering Holland Park Underground station at about 3pm on Saturday August 14.

Police said post-mortem examinations found "no obvious cause of death" and initial indications from toxicology tests showed no trace of any alcohol or routine or recreational drugs. Testing for any other substance is ongoing.

A force spokesman added there was no sign of any forced entry to his flat in Alderney Street, no signs of disturbance inside, and no property was believed to be missing.

"There is no suggestion the items within the flat were specifically posed," he said.

Mr Williams was days from completing a one-year secondment to the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, in Vauxhall, London.

Police said Mr Williams had returned from a planned holiday in the United States on Wednesday August 11 and went shopping "on a number of occasions" in the West End and Knightsbridge areas.

On Sunday August 15, he went to a cash machine and then to Harrods before CCTV images show him in Hans Crescent, heading towards Sloane Street, near the Dolce and Gabbana store, at about 2.30pm

Police said Mr Williams, who was 5ft 7in and of muscular build with short hair, was wearing a red T-shirt, beige trousers and white trainers.

Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire, who is leading the inquiry for the force's homicide and serious crime command, said: "I would appeal to anyone who may have seen, or had contact with Gareth in the period between 11th and 23rd August to come forward and speak with us.

"This remains a complex unexplained death inquiry."

In a statement shortly after his body was found, Mr Williams' family hit out at rumours that suggested the GCHQ codes expert was involved in risky sexual practices, saying they had been "very distressing".

In tribute to him, they said: "Gareth was a generous, loving son, brother, and friend, and he was a very private person.

"He was a great athlete, and loved cycling and music.

"His loss has devastated us and we would ask anyone with information to come forward and assist the police inquiry."

Police urged anyone with information to contact the incident room on 020 8358 0200 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Express : SPY PROBE POLICE RELEASE CCTV IMAGE

Monday, September 06, 2010

SPY PROBE POLICE RELEASE CCTV IMAGE

September 6, 2010

Officers investigating the death of British code-breaker Gareth Williams, whose decomposing body was found padlocked inside a holdall in his bath, have released CCTV footage of him as they appealed for the public's help.

Scotland Yard want to identify a man and a woman, both of Mediterranean appearance, who were let into the communal entrance of his flat in Pimlico, central London, late one evening in June or July.

A police spokesman added that no drugs, or indications of drug usage were recovered from the property.

Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire, who is leading the inquiry for the force's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "I would appeal to anyone who may have seen, or had contact with Gareth in the period between 11th and 23rd August to come forward and speak with us at the Incident Room on 020 8358 0200, or, to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

"This remains a complex unexplained death inquiry."

Police said post-mortem examinations found "no obvious cause of death" and initial indications from toxicology tests showed no trace of any alcohol or routine or recreational drugs. Testing for any other substance continues.

A force spokesman added there was no sign of any forced entry to his flat, no signs of disturbance inside and no property was believed to be missing.

"There is no suggestion the items within the flat were specifically posed," he said.

Officers want to trace two people, aged 20-30, who were let in to Mr Williams' block of flats in Alderney Street, Pimlico, late one evening in June or July.

As part of their appeal, Scotland Yard released CCTV images of the 30-year-old entering Holland Park Underground station at about 3pm on August 14.

BBC : Police appeal over death of MI6 worker Gareth Williams

Monday, September 06, 2010

Police appeal over death of MI6 worker Gareth Williams

September 6, 2010

Police investigating the death of MI6 worker Gareth Williams have appealed for help in tracing two people seen entering his central London flat.

Mr Williams' naked body was found in a bag in the bathroom of his Pimlico home by police on 23 August.

Detectives want to speak to a man and a woman, both of Mediterranean appearance, who called at the 30-year-old's home in June or July.

CCTV images of Mr Williams, captured on 14 and 15 August, have been released.

Officers said Mr Williams, from Anglesey, was found unclothed, in a zipped and padlocked red North Face holdall, which was in an empty bath in the ensuite bathroom.

Complex death

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said there had been no forced entry into the flat, adding: "We do not believe there is any property missing.

"There is no suggestion the items within the flat were specifically posed. No drugs, or indications of drug usage were recovered."

Scotland Yard said no trace of alcohol, routine or recreational drugs were found following tests on the body of Mr Williams.

Det Ch Insp Jacqueline Sebire said: "This remains a complex unexplained death inquiry.

"I would appeal to anyone who may have seen, or had contact with Gareth in the period between 11th and 23rd August to come forward and speak with us."

Detectives have released CCTV images of the 30-year-old entering Holland Park Underground station at about 1500 BST on 14 August.

Since returning from a planned holiday in the US on 11 August, he went shopping "on a number of occasions" in the West End and Knightsbridge areas", police said.

He also went into Harrods on 15 August, after visiting a cash machine, and then, at about 1430 BST, he was seen on CCTV images in Hans Crescent, heading towards Sloane Street, near the Dolce and Gabbana store.

Express : SPY’S BODY WAS COVERED IN ‘FLUID’ TO SPEED DECAY

Monday, September 06, 2010

SPY’S BODY WAS COVERED IN ‘FLUID’ TO SPEED DECAY

By John Chapman | September 6, 2010

DETECTIVES investigating the “perfect murder” of MI6 spy Gareth Williams are no closer to solving the riddle of his mystery death, it emerged yesterday.

The decomposing body of the code-breaker was found padlocked in a sports holdall in a bath at his flat in Pimlico, central London.

One theory being explored is that the body was submerged in “fluid”.

The disclosure he was covered by liquid – not thought to be blood or water – has raised fears a substance was used to accelerate decay and complicate toxicology tests. His body was described as being in fluid by the first officers at the scene.

It was claimed yesterday that he had the highest security clearance available to an intelligence officer.

Williams, 31, was allegedly part of team that created devices to steal data from mobiles and laptops. He was last seen alive eight days before his corpse was found on August 23.

The investigation is being led by the Met’s Homicide Command with the Counter Terror Command playing a back-up role. A pathologist found Williams was not stabbed or shot and there were no obvious signs of strangulation.

Amid fears that he was the victim of a “professional hit”, police are still baffled by the cause of death. The keen cyclist was days from completing a one-year secondment to MI6 in Vauxhall, London.

Williams, from Anglesey, north Wales, worked as a cipher and codes expert for the Government’s listening centre GCHQ in Cheltenham. He spent time on secondment to MI5 and it was claimed he had been on a secret mission to Bulgaria.

Metro Police : Update: Investigation into death of Gareth Williams

Monday, September 06, 2010

Update: Investigation into death of Gareth Williams

Bulletin 0000001951 | September 6, 2010

OFFICERS FROM the Homicide and Serious Crime Command investigating the death of Gareth Williams have today (Monday 6 September) appealed for further information, and have released CCTV images of him.

Mr Williams returned to the UK from a planned holiday in the US on Wednesday 11th August 2010. On his return we have established from CCTV enquiries, that on a number of occasions he was shopping in the West End and Knightsbridge areas.

The CCTV images are of Mr Williams on Saturday 14.08.10 at approx 3pm entering Holland Park underground station.

On Sunday 15.08.10 Mr Williams was shopping in Brompton Road, SW7. He went to a cash machine, and then into Harrods.

At approx 2.30pm CCTV images show him in Hans Crescent, SW1 heading towards Sloane Street, near to the Dolce and Gabbana store.

He was wearing a red t shirt, beige trousers, and white trainers. Mr Williams was approx 5"7, with short hair and of a muscular build.

Officers are also appealing for information to identify a man and a woman, both of Mediterranean appearance, aged between 20 - 30 years old, who called at 36 Alderney Street in June or July, late one evening. They were let into the communal front door.

Mr Williams was found in his flat at Flat 4, 36 Alderney Street, Pimlico, SW1 on 23.08.10 by uniformed officers. There was no sign of any forced entry to the property, and no signs of disturbance inside.

Mr Williams was found unclothed, in a zipped and padlocked red North Face holdall which was in an empty bath in the en suite bathroom.

We do not believe there is any property missing from the flat. There is no suggestion the items within the flat were specifically posed. No drugs, or indications of drug usage were recovered.

A post mortem held at Westminster Mortuary on 25.08.10 established no obvious cause of death.

Extensive forensic tests at the flat in Alderney Street and from the samples taken at the post mortem continue.

Initial indications from the toxicology examinations show no trace of any alcohol or routine or recreational drugs. Testing for any other substance continues.

Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire, Homicide and Serious Crime Command leading the investigation said;

"I would appeal to anyone who may have seen, or had contact with Gareth in the period between 11th and 23rd August to come forward and speak with us at the Incident Room on 0208 358 0200, or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

"This remains a complex unexplained death enquiry."