Intriguing spy tale, in real life
This is the last of a series of newspaper reports that I took photos of recently.
Here was a spy murder mystery in real life, dating back to 1977 (or 1974 for some of those directly affected) that included spies, espionage, a sex scandal, mistaken identity, BOTH the CIA AND KGB, and Middle East conflicts in which the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Israel, Egypt, the U.S.A. and Soviet Union were involved.
Obviously most of you didn't, and wouldn't be able to read the whole report. Here is a brief summary:
One evening in September 1974, Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) journalist David HALTON arrived in Cairo. On his way to the baggage claim area, two Middle Eastern men greeted Mr. Halton and said they would take him to his hotel. Odd, as Mr. Halton's itinerary was not known to the authorities, and he didn't plan anyone to pick him up at the airport. The two local men ushered Mr. Halton into a private car and drove off.
During the ride, small talks between the two men and Mr. Halton led to the realization that the two men were looking for Mr. David HOLDEN, chief foreign correspondent of London's Sunday Times, not CBC's David Halton. The two Egyptian men looked shocked in disbelief, no more conversation was exchanged. They dropped Mr. HALTON at his hotel and sped off. That was in 1974.
Then on the 6th December, 1977, The Sunday Times' David HOLDEN arrived in Cairo on assignment. Like David HALTON's experience three years earlier, Hr. Holden was intercepted by someone and ushered into a mysterious car. Several hours later, a body was discovered. Missing any ID, it was only on the 10th December, 1977, that the body was identified to belong to Mr. HOLDEN. He had been shot from behind.
After years of investigation by The Sunday Times' journalists, it was discovered that Mr. HOLDEN was likely a double-agent, as he had some sort of relationship with the CIA. Meanwhile, it was discovered that Mr. Holden was gay and had a lover named Leo Silberman, who turned out to be a KGB agent.
Not only that, and even more intriguing to the whole spy story, The Sunday Times' foreign editor between 1945 and 1959 was Ian Fleming. Yes, that "creator of James Bond" Ian Fleming, who was a real-life spy during World War II as Britain's intelligence chief, who recruited his wartime colleagues to work as newspaper associates while doubling as spies.
The murder of David Holden remains unsolved almost 50 years on. There has been a number of conspiracy or credible theories though.
Intriguing spy tale, in real life
This is the last of a series of newspaper reports that I took photos of recently.
Here was a spy murder mystery in real life, dating back to 1977 (or 1974 for some of those directly affected) that included spies, espionage, a sex scandal, mistaken identity, BOTH the CIA AND KGB, and Middle East conflicts in which the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Israel, Egypt, the U.S.A. and Soviet Union were involved.
Obviously most of you didn't, and wouldn't be able to read the whole report. Here is a brief summary:
One evening in September 1974, Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) journalist David HALTON arrived in Cairo. On his way to the baggage claim area, two Middle Eastern men greeted Mr. Halton and said they would take him to his hotel. Odd, as Mr. Halton's itinerary was not known to the authorities, and he didn't plan anyone to pick him up at the airport. The two local men ushered Mr. Halton into a private car and drove off.
During the ride, small talks between the two men and Mr. Halton led to the realization that the two men were looking for Mr. David HOLDEN, chief foreign correspondent of London's Sunday Times, not CBC's David Halton. The two Egyptian men looked shocked in disbelief, no more conversation was exchanged. They dropped Mr. HALTON at his hotel and sped off. That was in 1974.
Then on the 6th December, 1977, The Sunday Times' David HOLDEN arrived in Cairo on assignment. Like David HALTON's experience three years earlier, Hr. Holden was intercepted by someone and ushered into a mysterious car. Several hours later, a body was discovered. Missing any ID, it was only on the 10th December, 1977, that the body was identified to belong to Mr. HOLDEN. He had been shot from behind.
After years of investigation by The Sunday Times' journalists, it was discovered that Mr. HOLDEN was likely a double-agent, as he had some sort of relationship with the CIA. Meanwhile, it was discovered that Mr. Holden was gay and had a lover named Leo Silberman, who turned out to be a KGB agent.
Not only that, and even more intriguing to the whole spy story, The Sunday Times' foreign editor between 1945 and 1959 was Ian Fleming. Yes, that "creator of James Bond" Ian Fleming, who was a real-life spy during World War II as Britain's intelligence chief, who recruited his wartime colleagues to work as newspaper associates while doubling as spies.
The murder of David Holden remains unsolved almost 50 years on. There has been a number of conspiracy or credible theories though.