ITV News Security Editor Rohit Kachroo has discovered that the United Arab Emirates signed up a gun for hire – allegedly to target a British-Iraqi man here – around the time the-then Prince Charles was in the UAE on a diplomatic trip to strengthen ties between the two countries.
The target was Anas Altikriti, a hostage negotiator, an activist, and chief executive of a think-tank. ITV News has shared with him some of the messages sent at the time by the mercenary chief over WhatsApp and email. he is a well-known figure. He has helped to negotiate the release of more than 20 hostages across Africa and the Middle East. His public profile has been further enhanced by appearances on television as a commentator, and opinion pieces in newspapers.
The evidence gathered by ITV News does not prove whether Golan’s London operation was conceived
by figures inside the Emirati government or whether he took the plan to them, knowing the UAE
regarded Altikriti as an enemy. What is clear is that when he arrived in London, he was on the UAE’s
payroll and considered himself to be acting on its behalf. The messages he sent during his operation
indicate he was working under some form of direction.
Two weeks after Golan returned to the US from London, accounts filed in the UAE, though never
intended for public consumption, show some of the substantial payments made to Golan by Emirati
authorities for his work during the preceding months: several million dollars in salary and occasional
bonuses.
Abraham Golan refused to provide a substantive response to ITV News’ request for a comment. But in
a brief message sent over social media, he said "I have nothing to declare , I trust you will do your job."
Pressed again, he said he had "no interest" in speaking to ITV News.
Golan’s associate, the former US Navy SEAL who joined him in London, did not answer multiple
requests by ITV News to provide a comment.
The United Arab Emirates’ embassies in the UK and USA have not provided a response to these
findings.
A spokesperson for the UK Home Office said: “It is our longstanding policy not to comment on security
and intelligence matters.”
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