Merchant News : FBI joins investigation of MI6 agent death

FBI joins investigation of MI6 agent death

by Tom Chiltton | September 26, 2010

The FBI is the latest government organisation to join the manhunt for the couple linked to an MI6 agent that was found dead in a London safe house.

Using face recognition technology, the US Federal Investigations Bureau will determine if MI6 spy Gareth Williams at any point traveled to the US with a couple that fits the description of the two individuals being sought after by Scotland Yard. The couple, described as Mediterranean in appearance, is believed to have visited Williams’ flat in June or July.

Scotland Yard has, so far, not been able to locate the couple, but detectives maintain that they are vital to the ongoing inquiry. Williams’, a maths prodigy, made frequent trips to the US to the US National Security Agency in Maryland working on secondment. Williams arrived back in London from Washington on Tuesday 10 August and his body was found in his flat on 23 August. On the 15th of August, Williams was caught on camera shopping at Harrods. The MI6 agent’s funeral was held Friday and attended by MI6 head Sir John Sawers.

FBI agents have searched the flat that Williams used while working at the NSA in the States and have interviewed several of his colleagues. They have also taken steps to investigate whether or not the couple could be linked to Williams small group of friends in the States. According to US intelligence sources, so far nothing compromising has been turned up during the investigation.

Williams was a key player in a joint team operation put together by MI6, NSA and GCHQ. He was working on defence schemes for cyber attacks for both Britain and the US at the time of his death. According to one source, Williams clearance was so high, he had access to more than 30 different categories of NSA information.

Independent : The enigma of a code-breaker's death

The enigma of a code-breaker's death

The reputation of a brilliant man who served his country will be for ever tainted by the failure to explain his demise

By David Randall | September 26, 2010

On Friday, in the Bethel Methodist Chapel in Angelsey, the funeral was held of Gareth Williams. In life, he was a mathematician and an encryption specialist so highly regarded that he was seconded from GCHQ in Cheltenham to work at MI6 in London. In death, he is an enigma, an infuriating mystery for most of us, a deeply upsetting puzzle to his parents; for, though his body is now laid to rest, the questions about the bizarre way he met his end show no sign of being buried. Yesterday brought another theory, something this saga has attracted as a September orchard does wasps.

The facts are these. Gareth Williams was 31, studied mathematics at Cambridge, was recruited by the government's listening and monitoring operation in Gloucestershire, and was lent for a year to MI6. He moved to London last September, lived in a five-storey security services safe house at 36 Alderney Street, Pimlico, worked on matters such as computer security involving the City, and led, as far as police can tell, a rather introverted existence – no known partners or lovers, and little socialising. His only enthusiasm beyond his work seems to have been cycling.

Last month, he took a holiday. He went to the United States, returned on 11 August, and was last seen alive on CCTV at Holland Park Tube station on 14 August, and shopping near Harrods the following day. Eight days later, when he failed to appear back at work, colleagues raised the alarm, and officers went to his home. His flat seemed undisturbed and unoccupied, but in the bath they found a red, outsized, zipped and padlocked North Face holdall. Inside were the decaying remains of Mr Williams. His body (he was 5ft 8in tall) was naked, curled up tightly, with his arms and legs contorted behind him. The bag had 140 litres of storage capacity, and was double-stitched. The flat's direct telephone link to MI6 had not been used, and its front door had been locked from the outside.

Subsequent tests have established that Mr Williams had not been drugged by any known substances and had not taken drink, and his body, the apartment and holdall showed no signs of a struggle. There were no scratches or bruises on his body. Initial examinations indicate that he died of suffocation, with dehydration contributing, but confirmation of this will have to wait for the results of two post-mortems, due in a fortnight's time.

As if these facts were not riddle or sensational enough in themselves, the speculation – by "sources" real or imagined, online or off – has added further layers of weirdness. Into the vacuum created by no swift explanation has rushed a large quantity of hot air and now discredited or denied theorising. He was a sado-masochist ("more James Bondage than James Bond", as The West Australian leeringly put it) with a flat full of porn and restraint equipment. Not true, say police. He had 12 gay lovers. Wrong again on several levels, apparently. He was poisoned "by a foreign power" or "terrorist group" (he had worked, briefly, on systems in both Northern Ireland and Afghanistan), possibly by being injected with polonium, the substance that did for Alexander Litvinenko. There is no evidence for this, either.

What has some credibility is the latest idea, floated by yesterday's Daily Mail, that "MI6 spook did not die alone". This was an answer to the stories that Mr Williams died as a result of a hazardous sex game, a form of auto-eroticism that involved him being able to confine himself in the holdall and then somehow close the zip and secure the padlock. A woman police officer had, according to previous reports emanating from the Mail group and others, re-enacted this scenario to a fully padlocked conclusion.

This theory, which left the locking of the front door from the outside somewhat unexplained, was now, however, pooh-poohed, and, according to the Mail, "He was padlocked into the bag by someone else... and was alive when he got into – or was forced into – the bag." Yet the sex game idea was not entirely abandoned, as it was now speculated that he may have been shut in the bag, his assistant (or assistants) locking it before departing the flat; they were due to return to release him but miscalculated and found him dead when they came back.

This line of thought, outré though it sounds, does lead back to the remaining known facts about Mr Williams' life in London. Both of them involve his association with a couple who have yet to be traced. It has been established, for instance, that, twice a week over a period of a few months, Mr Williams had gone to the Patisserie Valerie in Holland Park, ordered an americano and waited. After a while, a couple would appear, order nothing, talk to Mr Wiliams for some minutes and then leave. Then there is a couple, described as "of Mediterranean appearance" (which the couple in the café were not, eye-witnesses say), who had a key, or at least ready access to Mr Williams' MI6 flat. Neighbours say that this pair did not, as far as they casually observed, need to be "buzzed up" to the flat by Mr Williams.

And so the mystery now lies, doomed – unless clarity is achieved soon – to churn for ever in the articles and websites of conspiracy theorists, leaving the name and reputation of a brilliant man in the service of his country tainted by the failure to explain his death adequately.

UPI : Dead MI6 agent also worked in Washington

Dead MI6 agent also worked in Washington

September 25, 2010

LONDON, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The FBI is helping British police in their investigation into the death of an intelligence analyst who had worked in the United States, officials say.

Sir John Sawers, the head of MI6, the British military intelligence agency, attended Gareth Williams' funeral Friday at the Bethel Methodist Chapel in Anglesey, Wales, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Williams' body was found in his London apartment locked into a sports bag on Aug. 23. Investigators had not determined a cause of death.

Williams, 31, made several trips to the United States to work with the National Security Agency at Fort Meade in Maryland, the Telegraph said. He returned from his final trip on Aug. 10.

A couple reportedly visited Williams in London. The FBI has been using face recognition technology to determine if the couple were with Williams on any of his flights into or out of the United States.

Agents have also asked baggage handlers in Washington if they remember a bag like the one where the body was found and have searched an apartment where he stayed in the city, the Telegraph said.

UKPA : Police refuse comment on spy's death

Police refuse comment on spy's death

September 25, 2010

Police have refused to comment on a report that a spy found dead in a holdall could not have died alone.

Gareth Williams, 31, was on secondment at the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, from GCHQ in Cheltenham, when he was found dead last month.

His naked body was discovered in a padlocked North Face holdall placed in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, London.

Mystery surrounds his death and police continue to investigate. They regard the case as "suspicious and unexplained".

The Daily Mail said police were certain he was padlocked into the large holdall by someone else.

It said he was alive when he got into, or was forced into, the bag, and died from suffocation.

There have previously also been reports elsewhere that Mr Williams died alone.

Scotland Yard declined to comment on the new claim, or a suggestion in the same story that the outer door of Mr Williams' Government flat in Pimlico, central London, had been locked from the outside.

The Yard has previously announced that it wants to identify a man and woman, both of Mediterranean appearance and aged between 20 and 30, who were let into the communal entrance of his flat late one evening in June or July.

The Mail reported that they are understood to have had a set of keys to the flat, though again the Yard had no comment.

Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

Metro : FBI 'joins investigation' into MI6 worker's body in a bag death

FBI 'joins investigation' into MI6 worker's body in a bag death

September 25, 2010

The FBI has joined the investigation into the mysterious death of MI6 code breaker Gareth Williams, according to a report.

Mr Williams's body was discovered inside a sports bag in the bath at his London home on August 23rd, triggering a high-profile police operation.
MI6 worker Gareth Williams was laid to rest on Friday (PA) MI6 worker Gareth Williams was laid to rest on Friday (PA)

Despite the efforts of police officers and pathologists, it is still unclear how the 31-year-old died and his funeral took place on Friday with his family in the dark about the circumstances that led to his passing.

Reports on Saturday suggested the police have finally ruled out the possibility he died alone, having previously considered whether he may have climbed into the bag by himself as part of a sex game.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, police are now focusing their attention on the hunt for a couple of Mediterranean appearance who are believed to have visited Mr Williams during the summer.

The newspaper claims that British investigators have asked the FBI for help, as Mr Williams made regular trips to the US after spending time on secondment with the National Security Agency, including one less than a fortnight before his body was found.

FBI officers are said to have searched a flat used by the MI6 worker in the US, as well as using facial recognition software to study airport CCTV tapes and questioning baggage handlers.

It is thought that investigators on both sides of the Atlantic have concluded that Mr Williams's death had nothing to do with espionage.

His funeral in Holyhead was attended by Sir John Sawers, the head of MI6, who praised the valuable work undertaken by Mr Williams during his time with the Secret Intelligence Service and GCHQ.

Independent : Police refuse to comment on suspicions surrounding spy's death

Police refuse to comment on suspicions surrounding spy's death

By Tim Moynihan, Press Association | September 25, 2010

Police today refused to comment on a report that a spy found dead in a holdall could not have died alone.

Gareth Williams, 31, was on secondment at the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, from GCHQ in Cheltenham, when he was found dead last month.

His naked body was discovered in a padlocked North Face holdall placed in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, London.

Mystery surrounds his death and police continue to investigate. They regard the case as "suspicious and unexplained".

Today's Daily Mail said police were certain he was padlocked into the large holdall by someone else.

It said he was alive when he got into, or was forced into, the bag, and died from suffocation.

There have previously also been reports elsewhere that Mr Williams died alone.

Scotland Yard declined to comment on the new claim, or a suggestion in the same story that the outer door of Mr Williams' Government flat in Pimlico, central London, had been locked from the outside.

The Yard has previously announced that it wants to identify a man and woman, both of Mediterranean appearance and aged between 20 and 30, who were let into the communal entrance of his flat late one evening in June or July.

The Mail reported that they are understood to have had a set of keys to the flat, though again the Yard had no comment.

The report comes a day after Mr Williams' funeral in North Wales.

The head of MI6, Sir John Sawers, made the journey from London to the small Bethel Methodist Chapel in Anglesey to support Mr Williams' family and represent the maths genius's colleagues who could not attend.

Outside church, when asked if the investigation would ever get to the bottom of what happened to Mr Williams, Sir John said it was not for him to say.

He insisted it was a police matter and said: "It has been a desperately sad period for the family since Gareth died.

"It has been very difficult for them and I wanted to be here today as the only public face of the Secret Intelligence Service.

"My deepest sympathies go to the family.

"Gareth was a hugely talented person and he was very modest and generous as well.

"He did really valuable work with us in the cause of national security."

Telegraph : FBI joins investigation into MI6 spy's death

FBI joins investigation into MI6 spy's death

By Gordon Thomas and Patrick Sawer | September 25, 2010

The FBI has joined the hunt for the mystery 'Mediterranean' couple linked to the death of the MI6 spy found dead in his London safe house.

The bureau has employed face recognition technology at US airports in a bid to establish whether Gareth Williams travelled in and out of the US any stage with a couple answering the description of two people Scotland Yard have appealed to come forward in connection with his death.

The couple, of 'Mediterranean' appearance, were thought to have visited Mr Williams's flat in Pimlico sometime in June or July. Scotland Yard believes the pair, in their thirties, were known to Mr Williams since neighbours do not recall buzzing them into the address.

So far no trace of the couple has been found and detectives believe they could be significant to the inquiry.

Mr Williams, a computing and maths prodigy whose funeral on Friday was attended by Sir John Sawers, the head of MI6, had made regular trips to the United States, where he worked on secondment to the US National Security Agency (NSA) in Fort Meade, Maryland, helping to create defences against cyberattack on banking and infrastructure systems.

His last trip back to London from Washington was on Tuesday, August 10, following a holiday in the US. On August 15 CCTV showed him shopping at Harrods, eight days before his body was found at his flat in Pimlico.

The Sunday Telegraph understands that FBI agents have questioned baggage handlers at Washington's Dulles International Airport. None of them recall loading a large North Face holdall of the type in which Mr Williams's decomposing body was later discovered in the bath of his flat.

CCTV camera tapes at the airport have been subjected to FBI "Face Recognition" analysis to establish if Mr Williams arrived alone for his departure flight – or whether he was at any stage accompanied by the Mediterranean looking man and woman being sought by the Metropolitan Police.

Agents have also searched an apartment in the US used by Mr Williams close to the offices of the NSA, in a bid to establish if his death presents a threat to their own national security.

The 31-year-old, who had been on secondment to MI6 from the GCHQ listening centre in Cheltenham for a year, is understood to have lived in the flat while working at the NSA.

Agents have also interviewed a number of Mr Williams's colleagues and associates in the US in their attempt to discover if security has been disrupted by his death. The FBI has also checked with Internal Security at the NSA to see if the description of the couple fitted any of the small circle of friends which Williams had developed while working there.

Given his known enthusiasm for cycling the FBI has made checks along the trails through the popular Appalachian Mountains close to Washington, to see if Mr Williams had rented a bicycle in the area or travelled there during his visits.

Intelligence sources say nothing compromising has been found during either the search or the interviews, however the revelations have focused attention on Mr Williams's work in the US and his links to American security agencies.

Mr Williams is understood to have been a key member of a joint team assembled by MI6, GCHQ and the NSA at Fort Meade, where he was helping create defences for both Britain and the US against cyber attack by hostile countries.

He was given his own work station, equipped with a supercomputer with a secure link to GCHQ and MI6.

According to an intelligence source "his clearance was so high that he had access to over 30 categories of information which NSA had gathered". From Fort Meade he would also visit the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defence.

Harry Ferguson, a former MI6 officer, said Mr Williams would have been a high-value asset if he had been recruited by a foreign agency.

It is understood that his remit at the NSA was to develop new defences that he would introduce to his post at GCHQ's Office of Cyber Security (OCS) on his return.

The FBI declined to confirm or deny whether its agents had searched Mr Williams's apartment. A spokesman at its Baltimore office, which covers the State of Maryland, said: "We don't discuss ongoing investigations."

Mr Williams's body was found in a state of advanced decomposition in the large North Face holdall, which had been padlocked from the outside and left in the bath of his flat at 23 Alderney Street, on August 23. Detectives have played down speculation that Mr Williams could have closed the padlock around the two zip handles from inside the bag. Officers are understood to believe someone else was involved in the death.

Two separate autopsies have failed to establish the cause of death and tests for other rare toxins which may evade initial examination continued last week on Mr Williams's body. A Home Office pathologist has already established that he was not stabbed, shot or strangled.

The continuing mystery over Mr Williams's death – along with the speculation, often lurid, surrounding it – has made it difficult for his parents Ian and Ellen to come to terms with the loss of their son. Mr and Mrs Williams, along with his sister Ceri, led mourners at his funeral at the Bethel Methodist Chapel in Anglesey before retreating their home in the village of Valley, overlooking the Irish Sea.

Mr Williams's uncle, William Hughes, a farmer and Plaid Cymru county councillor, said: "It's very tough for them at the moment. They are struggling to come to terms with what has happened. The fact no one yet seems to know how or why Gareth died makes it very difficult. He was a wonderful boy and Ian and Ellen were very proud of him."

Daily Star : MURDERED MI6 SPOOK GARETH WILLIAMS BURIED

MURDERED MI6 SPOOK GARETH WILLIAMS BURIED

By Daily Star Reporter | September 25, 2010

The funeral of MI6 spy Gareth Williams was held in his home town in Angelsey yesterday.

The codebreaker’s naked body was found zipped into a padlocked holdall in the bathroom of his London flat last month.

Metropolitan Police are still investigating his “complex” and “unexplained” death.

Hundreds gathered at the Bethel Chapel in Holyhead to pay tribute to the 31-year-old, who was described as a “quiet but happy person”. Mr Williams’ parents, Ellen and Ian were supported at the service by their daughter Ceri, 28.

Among the mourners were the Head of MI6, Sir John Sawers, and colleagues from GCHQ, the Government’s base in Cheltenham, and the Secret Intelligence Service.

His former headteacher Islwyn Williams, of Ysgol Morswyn primary school, also paid tribute to him.

Mirror : Head of MI6 joins mourners at the funeral of murdered spy Gareth Williams

Head of MI6 joins mourners at the funeral of murdered spy Gareth Williams

By Paul Byrne | September 25, 2010

The head of MI6 joined mourners at the funeral of murdered spy Gareth Williams yesterday.

Sir John Sawers took his place in the 115-year-old church with friends and family. But other security service colleagues were ushered in through a back door to protect their identities.

Mr Williams ' parents, Ellen and Ian, arrived with his sister Ceri, 28. Gareth, 31, was on secondment from GCHQ in Cheltenham, when he was found dead last month inside a padlocked holdall in his London flat. Two postmortems were inconclusive and police are still investigating.

Outside the small chapel in Holyhead, Anglesey, North Wales, Sir John said: "It has been a desperately sad period for the family since Gareth died.

"I wanted to be here as the only public face of the Secret Intelligence Service. He did really valuable work with us in the cause of national security."

Mirror : A SPY'S GOODBYE

A SPY'S GOODBYE

By Paul Byrne | September 25, 2010

The head of MI6 joined mourners at the funeral of murdered spy Gareth Williams yesterday.

Sir John Sawers took his place in the 115-year-old church with friends and family. But other security service colleagues were ushered in through a back door to protect their identities.

Mr Williams' parents, Ellen and Ian, arrived with his sister Ceri, 28. Gareth, 31, was on secondment from GCHQ in Cheltenham, when he was found dead last month inside a padlocked holdall in his London flat. Two postmortems were inconclusive and police are still investigating.

Outside the small chapel in Holyhead, Anglesey, North Wales, Sir John said: "It has been a desperately sad period for the family since Gareth died.

"I wanted to be here as the only public face of the Secret Intelligence Service. He did really valuable work with us in the cause of national security."

Daily Post : Funeral of Anglesey MI6 code-breaker Gareth Williams

Funeral of Anglesey MI6 code-breaker Gareth Williams

by Owen R Hughes, Daily Post | September 25, 2010

TRIBUTES were paid to MI6 code-breaker Gareth Williams as he was laid to rest on Anglesey.

More than 150 family, friends and colleagues including MI6 head Sir John Sawers silently entered Bethel Chapel in Holyhead to pay their final respects.

The 31-year-old spy’s body was discovered trapped in a padlocked North Face holdall placed in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, London in August.

Mystery surrounds the death of the maths genius from Valley and police continue to investigate.

Yesterday his tearful relatives clutched each other for support as they followed his wreath and tribute covered coffin into the Baptist Chapel led by his dad Ian, mum Ellen, and sister Ceri.

Ceri’s husband Chris Subbe paid tribute to Gareth inside the chapel, describing him as a “source of joy” for his family.

He went on to talk about meeting Gareth with Ceri at the Ritz Hotel in June, where they spent the afternoon laughing and joking.

He said: “The world was ours for the taking, yet here I am three months later, to the day, trying to describe your rich life with my poor words.”

He added that Gareth had always provided subtle and thoughtful conversation.

“He was unbelievably gifted but remained so modest and humble, he was a source of joy to his family,” he added.

The service was led by Rev John Rice Rowlands and a second tribute was also read out by Gareth’s former headteacher at Ysgol Gynradd Morswyn, Islwyn Williams.

He remembered the former pupil’s brilliance for maths which saw him attain GCSE at the age of 10.

Mourners sang Bread of Heaven and Craig yr Oesoedd, which was written by Samuel Jonathan Griffith (Morswyn), whom Gareth’s former primary school was named after.

After leaving the chapel his body was taken for burial at Ynys Wen Cemetery, Valley.

Outside the chapel MI6 head Sir John added his own tribute to Gareth.

He said: “My deepest sympathies go to the family. Gareth was a hugely talented person and he was very modest and generous as well. He did really valuable work with us in the cause of national security.”

Mr Williams worked as a communications officer at GCHQ in Cheltenham, but had been living in London after a secondment to the secret intelligence service.

He was due to return to Cheltenham a week after his body was found, after being in London for a year.

The Metropolitan Police have described the inquiry into his death as “complex”.

Fitness mad Gareth had excelled at school and graduated from Bangor University with a First Class mathematics degree at the age of 19.

Donations in his memory received at the funeral were given to Llanberis, Aberglaslyn and Ogwen Mountain rescue.

Express : MYSTERY OF DEAD SPY’S LOCKED FLAT

MYSTERY OF DEAD SPY’S LOCKED FLAT

By Chris Riches | September 25, 2010

THE MI6 spy whose naked body was found padlocked in a holdall did not die alone, detectives confirmed last night.

Police have still not ruled out the possibility that Gareth Williams, 31, died as the result of a sex game that went wrong.

But in an extra twist to the bizarre circumstances surrounding his death last month, it was revealed that the door to Mr Williams’s central London flat was locked from the outside when detectives arrived.

Yesterday the head of MI6 praised Mr Williams when he attended the funeral of the codebreaker.

Sir John Sawers said the maths genius had helped save lives. After the service in Holyhead, Anglesey, he said: “Gareth did very valuable work in the cause of national security. I wanted to be here as the only public face of the Secret Intelligence Service, to give support and offer sympathy to the family.”

About 200 mourners, led by Gareth’s parents Ian and Ellen and sister Ceri, gathered for the service.

Gareth, who worked for GCHQ at Cheltenham, Gloucs, was living in London on secondment to MI6.

Guardian : MI6 chief attends funeral of intelligence worker Gareth Williams

MI6 chief attends funeral of intelligence worker Gareth Williams

Sir John Sawers pays tribute to 'hugely talented person' who did 'really valuable work in the cause of national security'

Press Association | September 24, 2010

The head of MI6 has attended the funeral of Gareth Williams, the intelligence officer found dead in a padlocked holdall in his London flat.

Police are still investigating the death last month.

Sir John Sawers, the public face of the agency, took his place in the Methodist chapel in Anglesey through the front door – unlike some agents who used a back door to protect their identities.

Outside the church Sir John said Williams's death was a police matter, adding: "It has been a desperately sad period for the family since Gareth died. Gareth was a hugely talented person and he was very modest and generous as well.

"He did really valuable work with us in the cause of national security."

In the church, tributes were led by Islwyn Williams, the headteacher of the code breaker and cipher specialist's primary school, Ysgol Morswyn.

Mr Williams said of all the children he taught, Gareth made the strongest lasting impression and was academically brilliant.

Williams was last seen alive eight days before his body was found.

CCTV showed him shopping at Harrods and at Holland Park tube station.

Police have not categorised his death as murder.Williams was days from completing a one-year secondment to the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, in Vauxhall, London.

He was due to return to a rented flat in Cheltenham where Government Communications Headquarters, GCHQ, is based.

Williams also worked for the United States National Security Agency and made regular trips to Washington DC and Fort Meade, near Baltimore.

Daily Mail : MI6 spook did NOT die alone: Police certain he was padlocked in bag by someone else

MI6 spook did NOT die alone: Police certain he was padlocked in bag by someone else

By Stephen Wright | September 24, 2010

The MI6 spy whose naked body was found in a sports bag in his bath could not have died alone, police believe.

They are now certain he was padlocked into the large holdall by someone else.

Gareth Williams, 31, who was working on secondment for MI6, was alive when he got into - or was forced into – the bag and died from suffocation.

There were no injuries on his body to suggest a struggle and police have still not ruled out the possibility that his death was the culmination of a bizarre sex game that went wrong.

But in another mysterious twist, the Mail can reveal that the outer door to Mr Williams’s flat in Pimlico, Central London, had apparently been locked from the outside when police arrived on the scene.

Detectives have now intensified their search for a Mediterranean couple known to have been with Mr Williams in the weeks before his death. They are understood to have had a set of keys to the flat.

The disclosures come after a month of frenzied speculation about what happened in the flat last month, including theories that Mr Williams committed suicide alone.

But as the head of MI6 attended Mr Williams’s funeral near his family home in North Wales yesterday, the Daily Mail can reveal that this line of inquiry has been discounted.

We can also reveal that there is no evidence to support claims that Mr Williams was a cross-dresser, that bondage equipment was found at his home, that a laptop was missing from the flat, or that he had reported to spy bosses that he was being followed.

Nor, as was claimed in one report, was any suspicious liquid found next to his body in the sports bag.

Police have also dismissed allegations of irregularities in his finances and there is no evidence that Mr Williams had committed any criminal acts.

Inquiries continue into his private life, which officers remain convinced will be the key to solving the case.

Mr Williams’s decomposing body was found inside a zipped and padlocked North Face bag in his flat on August 23.

Initially it was thought the cycling enthusiast had been murdered, but the case remains officially classified as ‘suspicious and unexplained’.

Detectives believe that whoever was present around the time of his death might have been too scared to come forward to explain what happened.

The revelation that the Mediterranean couple had their own keys emerged after the Daily Mail returned to the scene of Mr Williams’s death earlier this week and spoke to neighbours.

Detectives believe the man and woman, in their thirties, were known to Mr Williams because neighbours do not recall their being ‘buzzed’ into the address.

Despite repeated appeals, the couple – who visited the flat owned by the intelligence services in late June or early July – have not come forward.

Their reluctance to identify themselves has hampered ‘Operation Finlayson’, the code name given to the Metropolitan Police investigation into Mr Williams’s death.

The Mail can reveal that the results of two post-mortem examinations, carried out by respected pathologists Ben Swift and Dick Shepherd, are expected to be made public in the next fortnight.

Initial tests are understood to suggest that Mr Williams died of suffocation while in the bag. Toxicology tests showed no traces of alcohol or rec­reational drugs in his system.

Mr Williams’s body was found in an extra-large North Face bag, which features 140 litres of storage capacity, durable material, double stitching, twin haul handles and locking zips.

Claims that a WPC or escapologist of similar height and build to Mr Williams had locked the padlock while inside the same type of bag, during a ‘re-enactment’ of the possible events leading to his death, have been dismissed.

A former senior Met detective said: ‘Cases like this are not like an episode of CSI. They are not solved neatly in 45 minutes.’

The head of MI6, Sir John Sawers, made the journey from London to the small Bethel Methodist Chapel in Anglesey for yesterday’s funeral to support Mr Williams’s family and represent colleagues who could not attend.

Mr Williams was on secondment at the Secret Intelligence Service from GCHQ in Cheltenham.

The mourners were led by his parents Ian and Ellen, his sister Ceri and her husband Chris Subbe.

A tribute was paid by Islwyn Williams, headteacher of Ysgol Morswyn, the primary school attended by the code-breaker and cipher specialist.

He said: ‘He accomplished more in three short decades than the rest of us do in a lifetime.’

Outside church, when asked if the investigation would ever get to the bottom of what happened to Mr Williams, Sir John insisted it was a police matter.

He said: ‘It has been a desperately sad period for the family since Gareth died.

‘Gareth was a hugely talented person and he was very modest and generous as well. He did really valuable work with us in the cause of national security.’

Mr Williams was last seen alive eight days before his body was found. CCTV showed him shopping at Harrods and at Holland Park Tube station.

Telegraph : Gareth Williams funeral: Head of MI6 pays tribute to 'hugely talented' spy found dead in bag

Gareth Williams funeral: Head of MI6 pays tribute to 'hugely talented' spy found dead in bag

September 24, 2010

The head of MI6 has attended the funeral of Gareth Williams, describing the spy found dead in a sports bag in the bath of his London flat as "hugely talented".

Sir John Sawers made the journey from London to the small Bethel Methodist Chapel in Anglesey to support Mr Williams's family and represent colleagues who could not attend.

Sir John, the public face of the agency, took his place in the 115-year-old church through the front door - unlike a number of others who were ushered into the building through a back door to protect their identities.

Williams, 31, a maths prodigy who worked for GCHQ in Cheltenham, was on a year's secondment at the Secret Intelligence Service in London when he was found dead last month.

His body was discovered trapped in a padlocked North Face holdall in the bath of his flat in Pimlico, London.

Mystery surrounds his death and police continue to investigate.

No trace of drugs or alcohol was found in the cycling enthusiast's body.

Outside church, when asked if the investigation would ever get to the bottom of what happened to Mr Williams, Sir John said it was a matter for the police.

''It has been a desperately sad period for the family since Gareth died, " he said.

''It has been very difficult for them and I wanted to be here today as the only public face of the Secret Intelligence Service.

''My deepest sympathies go to the family.

''Gareth was a hugely talented person and he was very modest and generous as well.

''He did really valuable work with us in the cause of national security.''

In the church, tributes were led by Islwyn Williams, who was the future code breaker's head teacher at primary school.

Mr Williams said of all the children he taught, the spy made the strongest lasting impression and was academically brilliant.

The teacher applauded his pupil for transferring to secondary school at age 10 and passing his maths GCSE at age 13.

''He accomplished more in three short decades than the rest of us do in a lifetime,'' he said.

Tearful relatives followed the pine coloured coffin into church with his parents Ian and Ellen and sister Ceri, whose husband Chris Subbe also paid tribute to Williams during the service.

The dead man's brother-in-law said he and his wife last saw him three months ago.

Williams had taken the pair for tea at the Ritz hotel to celebrate their second wedding anniversary.

''As the sun was setting the world was ours for the taking,'' said Mr Subbe.

Williams' parents issued a short statement saying: ''Ellen, Ian, Ceri, Chris and all the family wish to thank everyone for all the sympathy and kindness shown to them in their bereavement.''

Williams was last seen alive eight days before his body was found.

CCTV showed him shopping at Harrods and at Holland Park tube station.

Police have refused to categorise his death as murder.

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

He was due to return to a rented flat in Cheltenham where Government Communications Headquarters, GCHQ, is based.

Williams also worked for the United States National Security Agency and made regular trips to Washington DC and Fort Meade, near Baltimore.

Sun : Tributes at dead spy's funeral

Tributes at dead spy's funeral

By NEIL MILLARD | September 24, 2010

MI6 spy Gareth Williams was laid to rest today weeks after the bizarre circumstances of his death rocked the intelligence community.

The head of MI6 Sir John Sawers attended the service at the small Bethel Methodist Chapel in Anglesey, North Wales, to support his devastated family.

Mr Williams, 31, was on secondment at the Secret Intelligence Service, from GCHQ in Cheltenham, when he was found dead last month.

His body was padlocked in a holdall and placed in the bath at his flat in London's exclusive Pimlico.

Mystery still surrounds the death -- no trace of drugs or alcohol was found in the cycling fan's body -- and the police investigation is ongoing.

Outside church, Sir John, the public face of MI6, said it was not for him to say if cops would ever get to the bottom of his death.

He said: "It has been a desperately sad period for the family since Gareth died.

"It has been very difficult for them and I wanted to be here today as the only public face of the Secret Intelligence Service.

"My deepest sympathies go to the family.

"Gareth was a hugely talented person and he was very modest and generous as well.

"He did really valuable work with us in the cause of national security."

Islwyn Williams, headteacher at the code breaker's former primary school, led tributes inside the church.

He said he had made the strongest lasting impression on him and was academically brilliant.

Williams had moved up to secondary school aged just ten and passed his maths GCSE aged 13.

He added: "He accomplished more in three short decades than the rest of us do in a lifetime."

The pine-coloured coffin was accompanied into church by his parents Ian and Ellen and sister Ceri.

Mr Williams was last seen alive eight days before his body was found.

He was seen shopping at Harrods on CCTV and at Holland Park tube station.

Cops have refused to label the death as a murder.

Mr Williams died just days before he was due to complete the one-year secondment to Britain's foreign intelligence service in London's Vauxhall.

Daily Mail : 'Spooks' in mourning: Head of MI6 attends funeral of spy found locked in sports bag

'Spooks' in mourning: Head of MI6 attends funeral of spy found locked in sports bag

By Daily Mail Reporter | September 24, 2010

Spy Gareth Williams, who was found dead in a sports bag in a Central London flat, has been laid to rest in a service attended by the head of MI6.

Sir John Sawers made the journey from London to the small Bethel Methodist Chapel in Anglesey on Friday to support Mr Williams's family and represent the maths genius's colleagues who could not attend.

Sir John, the public face of the agency, took his place in the 115-year-old church through the front door - unlike a number of other spooks ushered into the building through a back door to protect their identities.

Mr Williams, 31, was on secondment at the Secret Intelligence Service from GCHQ in Cheltenham, when he was found dead last month.

His body was discovered trapped in a padlocked North Face holdall placed in the bath of his flat in Pimlico.

Mystery surrounds his death and police continue to investigate. No trace of drugs or alcohol was found in the cycling enthusiast's body.

Outside church, when asked if the investigation would ever get to the bottom of what happened to Mr Williams, Sir John said it was not for him to say.

He insisted it was a police matter and said: 'It has been a desperately sad period for the family since Gareth died.

'It has been very difficult for them and I wanted to be here today as the only public face of the Secret Intelligence Service.

'My deepest sympathies go to the family. Gareth was a hugely talented person and he was very modest and generous as well.

'He did really valuable work with us in the cause of national security.'

Tearful relatives followed Mr Williams's pine-coloured coffin into church with his parents Ian and Ellen and sister Ceri, whose husband Chris Subbe also paid tribute to Mr Williams during the service.

Mr Williams's parents issued a short statement saying: 'Ellen, Ian, Ceri, Chris and all the family wish to thank everyone for all the sympathy and kindness shown to them in their bereavement.'

In church, tributes were led by Islwyn Williams, the headteacher of the code breaker and cipher specialist's primary school, Ysgol Morswyn.

Mr Williams said of all the children he taught, the spy made the strongest lasting impression and was academically brilliant.

The teacher applauded his pupil for transferring to secondary school at age 10 and passing his maths GCSE at age 13.

'He accomplished more in three short decades than the rest of us do in a lifetime,' he said.

Mr Williams was last seen alive eight days before his body was found. CCTV showed him shopping at Harrods and at Holland Park tube station.

Police have refused to categorise his death as murder.

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

He was due to return to a rented flat in Cheltenham where Government Communications Headquarters, GCHQ, is based.

Mr Williams also worked for the United States National Security Agency and made regular trips to Washington DC and Fort Meade, near Baltimore.

Canadian Press : Head of MI6 attends funeral of British spy whose body was found in bag in his bathtub

Head of MI6 attends funeral of British spy whose body was found in bag in his bathtub

By The Associated Press (CP) | September 24, 2010

LONDON — The head of Britain's MI6 spy agency has attended the funeral of an intelligence officer whose body was found inside a padlocked sports bag.

The 31-year-old code-breaker Gareth Williams was found dead last month inside his London apartment. He worked for the eavesdropping agency GCHQ, and was on secondment to the foreign spy service, known as MI6, when he died.

His death sparked speculation and theories ranging from assassination to a sex game gone wrong. Police say only that it remains unexplained.

Williams was laid to rest Friday in his home town of Holyhead, north Wales.

MI6 chief John Sawers paid tribute to Williams for doing "really valuable work with us in the cause of national security."

Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

UKPA : MI6 chief attends funeral of spy

MI6 chief attends funeral of spy

UKPA | September 24, 2010

Spy Gareth Williams, who was found dead in a flat in central London, has been laid to rest in a service attended by the head of MI6.

Sir John Sawers made the journey from London to the small Bethel Methodist Chapel in Anglesey on Friday to support Mr Williams's family and represent the maths genius's colleagues who could not attend.

Sir John, the public face of the agency, took his place in the 115-year-old church through the front door - unlike a number of other spooks ushered into the building through a back door to protect their identities.

Mr Williams, 31, was on secondment at the Secret Intelligence Service from GCHQ in Cheltenham, when he was found dead last month. His body was discovered trapped in a padlocked North Face holdall placed in the bath of his flat in Pimlico.

Mystery surrounds his death and police continue to investigate. No trace of drugs or alcohol was found in the cycling enthusiast's body.

Outside church, when asked if the investigation would ever get to the bottom of what happened to Mr Williams, Sir John said it was not for him to say. He insisted it was a police matter and said: "It has been a desperately sad period for the family since Gareth died.

"It has been very difficult for them and I wanted to be here today as the only public face of the Secret Intelligence Service. My deepest sympathies go to the family. Gareth was a hugely talented person and he was very modest and generous as well. He did really valuable work with us in the cause of national security."

Tearful relatives followed Mr Williams's pine coloured coffin into church with his parents Ian and Ellen and sister Ceri, whose husband Chris Subbe also paid tribute to Mr Williams during the service. Mr Williams's parents issued a short statement saying: "Ellen, Ian, Ceri, Chris and all the family wish to thank everyone for all the sympathy and kindness shown to them in their bereavement."

Mr Williams was last seen alive eight days before his body was found. CCTV showed him shopping at Harrods and at Holland Park tube station. Police have refused to categorise his death as murder.

Mr Williams was days from completing a one-year secondment to the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, in Vauxhall, London. He was due to return to a rented flat in Cheltenham where Government Communications Headquarters, GCHQ, is based. Mr Williams also worked for the United States National Security Agency and made regular trips to Washington DC and Fort Meade, near Baltimore.

Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

UKPA : Funeral of MI6 man found dead in bag

Funeral of MI6 man found dead in bag

September 24, 2010

The funeral of MI6 code-breaker Gareth Williams, whose body was found in London, is to take place.

The 31-year-old's naked body was found padlocked shut in a holdall in a bath at his London flat on August 23.

Scotland Yard is treating his death as "unexplained".

He died while on secondment to the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) from his work at Government Communications HQ (GCHQ) in Cheltenham.

The public funeral will be held at 1pm at the Bethel Chapel, Holyhead, Anglesey.

Mr Williams's parents, Ian and Ellen, asked for donations in the keen cyclist's memory to go to their local mountain rescue service.

Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

Daily Post : Funeral for MI6 code breaker from Anglesey

Funeral for MI6 code breaker from Anglesey

by Dan Beavan, Daily Post | September 22, 2010

THE funeral of MI6 code breaker Gareth Williams, who was found dead in a sports bag in his London flat, will take place this Friday.

The 31-year-old’s unclothed body was found in a holdall in the bathroom of his Pimlico home by police on August 23.

Metropolitan Police are still investigating the "unexplained" death of Mr Williams, who came from Valley on Anglesey.

The family yesterday announced that his funeral will be held at Bethel Chapel in Holyhead on Friday at 1pm. He will then be laid to rest at Ynys Wen Cemetery, Valley.

Mr Williams worked as a communication officer at GCHQ in Cheltenham, but had been living in London after a secondment to the secret intelligence service.

He was due to return to Cheltenham a week after his body was found, after being in London for a year.

The Metropolitan Police have described the inquiry into his death as "complex".

An inquest was opened at Westminster Coroner’s Court earlier this month. It revealed his body was found in a zipped and padlocked red North Face holdall, which was in an empty bath in the en-suite bathroom.

There had been no forced entry into his flat and no property was missing.

Earlier this month the investigating team released CCTV images of Mr Williams, captured on August 14 and 15 in London.

Tributes have been paid locally to the fitness mad MI6 worker who had excelled at school and graduated from Bangor University with a First Class mathematics degree at the age of 19.

Donations in his memory received at the funeral will be given to Llanberis, Aberglaslyn and Ogwen Mountain rescue.

Independent : Funeral date for MI6 man found dead in bag

Funeral date for MI6 man found dead in bag

By Mike Hornby, PA | September 22, 2010

The funeral of MI6 code-breaker Gareth Williams will take place on Friday.

The 31-year-old's naked body was found padlocked shut in a holdall in a bath at his London flat on August 23.

Scotland Yard is treating his death as "unexplained".

In a death notice in the North Wales Daily Post, his family announced that the public funeral will take place at 1pm on Friday at the Bethel Chapel, Holyhead, Anglesey.

The notice went on to pay tribute to Mr Williams, saying he was the "beloved" son of Ellen and Ian and the "adored brother and best friend" of sister Ceri and her husband Chris.

The family of Mr Williams, a keen sportsman, has asked for donations to the local Mountain Rescue Service in his memory.

UKPA : Funeral date for MI6 man found dead in bag

Funeral date for MI6 man found dead in bag

September 22, 2010

The funeral of MI6 code-breaker Gareth Williams, whose body was found in London, will take place on Friday.

The 31-year-old's naked body was found padlocked shut in a holdall in a bath at his flat on August 23.

Scotland Yard is treating his death as "unexplained".

In a death notice in the North Wales Daily Post, his family announced that the public funeral will take place at 1pm on Friday at the Bethel Chapel, Holyhead, Anglesey.

The notice went on to pay tribute to Mr Williams, saying he was the "beloved" son of Ellen and Ian and the "adored brother and best friend" of sister Ceri and her husband Chris.

The family of Mr Williams, a keen sportsman, has asked for donations to the local Mountain Rescue Service in his memory.

Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

UK Wired : Anglesey funeral for MI6 worker Gareth Williams

Anglesey funeral for MI6 worker Gareth Williams

September 21, 2010

The funeral of MI6 worker Gareth Wyn Williams who was found dead in his central London flat is to take place on Anglesey.

His unclothed body was found in a bag in a the bathroom of his Pimlico home by police on 23 August.

The funeral of the 31-year-old from Valley on the island will be held at Bethel Chapel in Holyhead on Friday.

Metropolitan Police are still investigating the "unexplained" death.

Mr Williams worked as a communication officer at GCHQ in Cheltenham, but had been living in London after a secondment to the secret intelligence service.

The Metropolitan Police have described the inquiry into his death as "complex".

A post mortem examination was unable to confirm a cause of death.

His body was found in a zipped and padlocked red North Face holdall, which was in an empty bath in the ensuite bathroom.

There had been no forced entry into his flat and no property was missing, officers said.

Earlier this month the investigating team released CCTV images of Mr Williams, captured on 14 and 15 August in London.

A newspaper announcement said the public funeral service for Mr Williams at 1300 BST will be followed by burial at at Valley where he was from.

Donations in his memory will be given to the Llanberis, Aberglasglyn and Ogwen Mournain rescue services.

Wales Online : Funeral date for M16 worker Gareth Williams

Funeral date for M16 worker Gareth Williams

September 21, 2010

The funeral of M16 worker Gareth Williams will take place this Friday in Anglesey.

The service for the 31-year-old, who was found dead in August, will take place at Bethel Chapel, Holyhead.

Mr Williams' death at his Pimlico home is still being investigated by Metropolitan police.

He died while on secondment to the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) from his work at Government Communications HQ (GCHQ) in Cheltenham.