Daily Post : CCTV images of murdered spy Gareth Williams released

CCTV images of murdered spy Gareth Williams released

by Eryl Crump, Daily Post | September 7, 2010

Images of the last known sightings of murdered MI6 spy Gareth Williams before his body was discovered padlocked in a holdall have been released.

The CCTV images have been released by police as part of an appeal for information into the death of the 30-year-old from Valley, Anglesey.

They show Mr Williams out and about in London on the weekend of August 14/15. His body was found in a bag in the bath of his central London flat nine days later.

The first footage shows him entering Holland Park tube station in west London at about 3pm on August 14. A second bit of film shows him on the following day shopping in west London around the Brompton Road area and going into Harrods.

Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire, who is leading the inquiry, 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.

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, at about 2.30pm

Ms Sebire said: “I would appeal to anyone who may have seen or had contact with Gareth between August 11 and 23 to come forward and speak with us. This remains a complex unexplained death inquiry.”

Detectives said they were also trying to trace two people seen near the code-breaker's flat.

Ms Sebire said officers 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 late one evening in June or July.

His body was found by officers who broke in after Mr Williams failed to appear at work for several days.

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.

Ms Sebire said 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,” she said.

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

His horrified family have paid tribute to him describing him as a “generous, loving son, brother and friend”.

A keen cyclist, Mr Williams often visited his family, who live at Valley near Holyhead, and often took part in events organised by Holyhead Cycling Club and Clwb Rasio Mona.

His family have hit out at rumours suggesting he was involved in risky sexual practices, saying they had been “very distressing”.

In a statement they said: “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 0208 358 0200 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Express : SPY DEATH POLICE INQUIRY LEADS TO MYSTERY COUPLE

SPY DEATH POLICE INQUIRY LEADS TO MYSTERY COUPLE

September 7, 2010

A MYSTERY couple were being sought last night by detectives investigating the bizarre death of an MI6 spy.

The man and woman, of Mediterranean appearance and aged 20 to 30, called at codebreaker Gareth Williams’ home shortly before he died.

They “were buzzed” through the communal front door and into the converted Georgian town house in Pimlico, central London. It is not known if they visited the spy’s top-floor flat.

Details of the couple emerged as police released the last known images taken of Mr Williams, 31, before his body was found on August 23 inside a padlocked sports bag dumped in his bath.

The CCTV footage shows him in London on ­Saturday, August 14, and Sunday, August 15, shortly after he returned from a holiday in the US and eight days before his body was discovered.

As police appealed for help to piece together his last movements, there was renewed speculation that the brilliant mathematician had been poisoned or suffocated. ­Scotland Yard has not ruled out the possibility he was assassinated by a rival intelligence outfit.

Initial toxicology tests showed no trace of ­alcohol or drugs. There were no signs of forced entry or a disturbance and nothing appeared to have been stolen from inside the flat.

It is believed further scientific analysis is being carried out on the body to detect tiny traces of radioactive or other toxic materials.

Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire said: “I would appeal to anyone who may have seen, or had contact with Gareth between August 11 and 23 to speak to us on 0208 358 0200, or to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” She added: “This remains a complex unexplained death inquiry.”

Sun : Cops hunt couple over MI6 murder

Cops hunt couple over MI6 murder

By MIKE SULLIVAN, Crime Editor | September 7, 2010

SCOTLAND Yard was last night hunting a mystery couple over the murder of body-in-the-bath MI6 spook Gareth Williams.

The man and woman called at the codebreaker's flat in the dead of night weeks before the 30-year-old was found killed.

A neighbour who let the pair into their central London block described them as Mediterranean-looking.

Detectives have so far been unable to trace the couple. They appealed to the public for help - as they issued CCTV of the victim's last known movements.

Eight days later a holdall was found in his Pimlico bath with his body stuffed inside.

How he died remains a mystery. A toxicology report revealed by cops yesterday found no alcohol, drugs or easily-detected poisons in his blood.

Experts are carrying out further tests to discover if he was the victim of any rare poisons - like the radiation that killed former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.

But the main focus of the police inquiry is on the Cambridge graduate's private life.

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

News dot com [AU] : Dead British spy Garreth Williams 'had no drugs, alcohol in system'

Dead British spy Garreth Williams 'had no drugs, alcohol in system'

September 7, 2010

SCOTLAND Yard detectives said last night an autopsy has revealed no traces of drugs or alcohol in the body of MI6 spy Garreth Williams.

Police also confirmed no traces of drugs or alcohol were found in the reclusive spy's flat in central London.

Williams, a decoder for the British secret service, was found dead in his flat last month.

His naked body was padlocked in a red North Face holdall and in an empty bath in his en suite bathroom when it was discovered.

Police want to speak with two people who were seen on CCTV footage entering the communal door of Williams' flat in June or late July.

They have also released images of Williams last days, where he was caught on CCTV cameras shopping in London's West End and the exclusive Harrod's department store in Knightsbridge.

An autopsy last month failed to establish a cause of death.

Police said nothing was stolen from the flat and there were no drugs, or indications of drug usage in the flat.

They have appealed for witnesses who may have seen Williams in the weeks leading up to his death.

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

Daily Star : MI6 MURDER: COPS HUNT 'MEDITERRANEAN COUPLE'

MI6 MURDER: COPS HUNT 'MEDITERRANEAN COUPLE'

By Gemma Wheatley | September 7, 2010

POLICE last night revealed they are looking for a “Mediterranean couple” over the death of MI6 spy Gareth Williams.

The news came as detectives released some of the last pictures of the murdered agent alive.

Gareth Williams' naked body was found padlocked inside a suitcase at his £400,000 flat in London’s Pimlico on August 23.

He was last seen shopping in Harrods eight days earlier, on Sunday August 15.

And police have released CCTV images of him entering Holland Park Underground station the day before.

The Met yesterday revealed it is trying to trace a man and woman who were spotted visiting Mr Williams’s flat late one evening a few weeks earlier.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: “Officers are appealing for information to identify a man and a woman, both of Mediterranean appearance, aged between 20 and 30 years old, who called at 36 Alderney Street in June or July, late one evening.

“They were let into the communal front door.”

There were no signs of disturbances in the flat or of a forced entry and nothing is believed to have been taken from inside.

The new clues came as it also emerged that his body had been found submerged in a mystery fluid, thought to have been used to speed up decay.

The fluid was not believed to be blood or water and could have been used to complicate toxicology results.

Mr Williams’s remains were found stuffed inside a North Face sports bag in his bath.

The 31-year-old cycling and fitness fanatic was a maths genius on secondment to MI6’s HQ on the bank of the Thames in London when he died.

His last movements are believed to have been on Sunday, August 15, when he was seen shopping in the capital’s Brompton Road.

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.

He withdrew money from a cash machine and went into Harrods.

At around 2.30pm he was spotted heading from there towards Sloane Street.

Forensic tests at his flat are continuing, while results from the post-mortem examination revealed that there were no indications of drug use.

But so far police are no closer to finding out exactly how Mr Williams died.

Det Chief 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 11 and 23 August to come forward and speak with us.

“This remains a complex unexplained death inquiry.”

Last night, University of Buckingham security expert Professor Anthony Glees said: “In my own opinion, a murder of this kind bears all the hallmarks of a professional killing and not a rage attack.

“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.”

Daily Mail : Was it poison? Two weeks after murdered spy was found in his bath, baffled police release CCTV of victim as they probe radiation theory

Was it poison? Two weeks after murdered spy was found in his bath, baffled police release CCTV of victim as they probe radiation theory

By Charlotte Gill | September 7, 2010

Tests to discover whether murdered MI6 spy Gareth Williams was poisoned are being carried out.

Yesterday, detectives revealed pictures of the last known moments of the 31-year-old codebreaking expert.

They also disclosed that his body was naked when found and initial toxicology tests show no traces of alcohol or recreational drugs in his system.

With no obvious cause of death, further tests are under way to determine whether a rare drug or poison can be found.

One possibility is that Mr Williams was killed by radiation poisoning, as happened when Polonium 210 was used to murder exiled Russian secret agent Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.

CCTV images show him walking through some of London’s most affluent areas eight days before his body was found padlocked in a sports bag in his bath.

Detectives also appealed for help in identifying a young man and woman who called at his flat late one night.

The pair, both of Mediterranean appearance and aged between 20 and 30, were let in through the communal door to the Victorian house conversion weeks before he died. It is not known whether they went to his flat or indeed saw the spy – deepening the mystery over his murder.

Two weeks after the spy’s body was found police are still unable to say how he died.

The CCTV footage shows him shopping alone at Harrods on Sunday August 15 at about 2.30pm. He is in a red T-shirt, beige trousers and white trainers and is carrying a white plastic bag.

A day earlier he was caught on CCTV entering Holland Park Tube station in West London at a similar time, again by himself, wearing the same clothes and carrying a white bag.

Scotland Yard said there was no sign of forced entry to Mr Williams’s flat, suggesting he might have known his killer and had let them in.

Detectives will not go into detail about who let the mystery couple in through the front door of the house in Pimlico, Central London, ‘late one evening’ in June or July or why they were there.

But the incident is seen as a potentially significant line of inquiry in the increasingly puzzling case, with pathologists yet to determine how the cipher and codes specialist died.

Although there are no outward signs that the cycling enthusiast met a violent death, officers have not yet ruled out asphyxiation.

The revelation that his body was naked will fuel speculation that he could have been involved in a sex game which went wrong.

Another theory for the absence of clothes is that his killer was forensically aware and wanted to destroy any potentially incriminating contact with Mr Williams.

Sources close to the inquiry have admitted they are ‘baffled’ about the case.

Claims that Mr Williams had previously complained of being followed and that a laptop computer is missing from his home have been rejected by police.

Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Sebire, who is leading the inquiry, said: ‘This remains a complex unexplained death inquiry.’

Investigators know that Mr Williams, who was a loner with few friends, returned from a ‘planned holiday’ in the U.S. on Wednesday August 11.

He was coming to the end of a year-long secondment at MI6, whose headquarters are half a mile from his flat, and was due to return to GCHQ, the Government’s listening post in Cheltenham.

Using his mobile phone to track his whereabouts, they have discovered by trawling through CCTV that he went shopping ‘on a number of occasions’ in the West End and Knightsbridge on August 14 and 15.

After visiting Harrods, he seen walking towards Sloane Street, near to the Dolce and Gabbana store, though he does not go in the shop. Police have refused to disclose what he was buying.

It is the last time he was seen and detectives are still desperate to find any further sightings.

Lurid speculation that Mr Williams was a gay transvestite and bondage gear was found in the flat has been dismissed as untrue by police.

A source close to the inquiry has also said there was ‘nothing out of place in his finances’ despite reports that unexplained money might have moved in and out of his account.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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."

Express : MURDERED SPY GARETH WILLIAMS ‘WAS BEING TAILED’

MURDERED SPY GARETH WILLIAMS ‘WAS BEING TAILED’

By James Murray | September 5, 2010

MURDERED spy Gareth Williams feared he was being followed by two men and told bosses at MI6 he thought he was being targeted by foreign agents.

His superiors were not convinced, however, and took no action to discover the identity of the men, said to be white and in their 40s.

Superfit cyclist Mr Williams, 31, also raised his concerns with officials at GCHQ, the Government’s communications headquarters.

He had been on secondment to M16 from GCHQ when he was found dead inside a padlocked sports bag in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, west London, on August 23. There were no signs of forced entry. The sensational new claims come from a source close to the investigation.

Scotland Yard and GCHQ declined to comment yesterday, saying they would not confirm or deny the allegations.

The source said: “About six months ago Mr Williams complained to people at M16 that he thought he was being followed.

“He said he kept seeing the individuals near his home, at bus stops and hanging around shops where he was staying. He was told they could just be local people, but he felt there was more to it.

“He became frustrated by the response from the people at M16 and so he raised it with his colleagues at GCHQ. He was concerned that people at M16 were not taking his claims seriously.”

Scotland Yard detectives are now going through hours of CCTV footage from the Pimlico area to see if they can spot the men Mr Williams thought were tailing him. However, if Mr Williams was being trailed by foreign spies it is likely they would have taken steps to ensure they were not caught on CCTV.

Daily Mail : Was body of MI6 spy submerged in mystery fluid to speed up decay?

Was body of MI6 spy submerged in mystery fluid to speed up decay?

By Abul Taher and Ian Gallagher | September 5, 2010

The policeman who found the body of MI6 codebreaker Gareth Williams said it was submerged in ‘fluid’, The Mail on Sunday has learned.

An inquest heard last week that the 31-year-old spy was padlocked in a sports hold-all and left in the bath of his two-bedroom flat in Pimlico, Central London.

But the disclosure that he was also covered by liquid – not thought to be blood or water – has raised fears that a substance was used to accelerate decay and complicate toxicology tests.

The revelation came as new details emerged of the highly sensitive nature of Mr Williams’s work.

A source said he had the highest security clearance available to an intelligence officer and was part of a secretive ‘cell’ that created devices that can steal data from mobiles and laptops.

Now, nearly two weeks after cycling enthusiast Mr Williams was found in his flat, police are apparently no nearer to learning how or when he died.

This is despite a post-mortem, a second examination and toxicology tests, the results of which might not be available for weeks.

Sources close to the inquiry say the PC who found the body described it as being in ‘fluid’ when he radioed for assistance. Detectives at the scene are understood to have used the same word in their reports.

Immediately after making the discovery at the flat, the PC said: ‘This is a murder scene.’

Mr Williams, from Anglesey, North Wales, worked as a cipher and codes expert for the Government’s eavesdropping centre GCHQ in Cheltenham.

He was on a year-long secondment to MI6 which was due to end days after he was found dead.

Police and security sources have indicated that the explanation for his death is more likely to be found in his personal life rather than his work.

But speculation that he was the victim of a professional ‘hit’ was given credence last night after further details of his work were disclosed.

‘He was involved in some very sensitive projects, known as codeword protected,’ said a security expert.

‘This meant that only the people in his cell would know what he was working on, and nobody else in his organisation.

‘You are signed in to these projects and once you finish one you are signed out and you no longer have access to any data or news about what is happening in the project.’

Mr Williams – a child prodigy who had a degree in maths at 17 and then a PhD in the subject – was part of a team that created devices which ‘hook’ on to mobiles and laptops.

‘It is an aggressive form of Bluetooth or similar wireless technology,’ said the security expert.

He said such devices would be used by spies on the ground to steal data from the handsets of unsuspecting terrorists, organised criminals or officers from rival intelligence agencies.

‘Traditionally, there has been a separation of MI6 and GCHQ,’ said the expert. ‘MI6 has been full of the James Bond types working on the ground and GCHQ is filled with boffins with beards who are doing their scientific stuff.

‘But recently there has been a merger of these agencies’ work and Williams was at the forefront of that. This was why he was on secondment to MI6.’

He added that Mr Williams did similar work when he had stints at the National Security Agency in America.

The NSA is the equivalent of GCHQ and has been leading the West’s attempts to intercept communication between Al Qaeda cells.

Mr Williams worked for the Special Delivery Team, a unit set up in the NSA to create advanced bugging and intercepting devices.

‘If you just look at Williams’s CV, you know he has worked in some of the most important data-mining centres in the UK and US. His salary is no indication of his rank,’ said the expert.

It has also emerged that before his secondment to MI6, Mr Williams worked briefly for MI5, the domestic security agency. As part of that work, he was sent to Bulgaria on a secret mission.

A source close to the investigation said that on August 23 police were asked to check on Mr Williams’s flat as he had not shown up for work. Just before 6pm, a PC went to the Georgian townhouse in Alderney Street, which has been converted into four flats on four floors. Mr Williams had the top one.

The PC could not get into the house so the letting agent, W.  A. Ellis, was called and a woman employee arrived with keys.

She hovered at Mr Williams’s door as the PC went inside. Within minutes he emerged quickly from the en suite bathroom and escorted the woman back downstairs. He then told her: ‘You stay here. This is now a murder scene.’

This weekend, staff at W. A. Ellis, of Knightsbridge, refused to confirm details. A spokeswoman said: ‘36 Alderney Street is owned by a private company, New Rodina.

‘There has been speculation that it is linked to MI6 or that it is a front for MI6. Our clients do not have any links to MI6 whatsoever and are distressed by the death of Mr Williams.’

Wigan Today : Police search for spy-murder clues

Police search for spy-murder clues

September 4, 2010

Detectives investigating the murder of a British spy said they are picking over his private life for clues that could identify his killer.

The decomposing body of codes expert Gareth Williams, 30, was found in a bag in the bath of his London government flat.

He was days from completing a one-year secondment to the headquarters of MI6 from his job at national "listening post" GCHQ in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Further tests are being carried out to determine how the fitness fanatic died because a post-mortem examination was inconclusive. They could determine if Mr Williams was strangled or asphyxiated, as well as if drugs or alcohol were present in his system.

Police believe Mr Williams's body could have lain undiscovered for up to a fortnight and it is thought he was on holiday at the time of his death. They believe the key to the case could lie in his private life. His family said he was an extremely private person.

Investigators suspect Mr Williams, who was originally from Holyhead, North Wales, might have known his killer as there was no sign of forced entry at his top-floor flat in Alderney Street, Pimlico.

William Hughes, the cousin of Mr Williams's wife, said the family is deeply shocked.

He said: "The last time I saw Gareth was just a few months ago at a family party and he was fine. He was always a quiet person, he was from a young age, but this is a close family and we all see each other quite regularly at family occasions."

Mr Hughes added: "I knew he worked at GCHQ and he had been working in London but I didn't know what he did. It wasn't said that we shouldn't talk about it, I simply never asked and he never told me. He was a bright boy from a young age and his parents were very proud of him."

Investigators said the death is "suspicious and unexplained".

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