UK's Burnham urged to address alleged UAE plot against British academic

A British academic has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham asking for his response to a report alleging that the United Arab Emirates ordered a covert surveillance operation aiming to kill him in London.

An ITV News investigation last month reported that the UAE paid millions of dollars to a mercenary to target Anas Altikriti, the chief executive of the London-based Cordoba Foundation think tank.

Abraham Golan, a dual Hungarian-Israeli citizen who ran the private security company Spear Operations Group, allegedly travelled to Britain in December 2016 to target Altikriti.

Altikriti sent a letter to the prime minister on 21 August saying: "I ask you to explain how it is that a foreign government was apparently able to fund a plan to threaten my life and monitor my family, on British streets, without consequence to that government, and what protection people in my position can expect from their own state when this happens."

He urged the government to disclose "what UK authorities knew of this operation in 2016".

Emirati financial records seen by ITV showed that Golan, who lived in the US, was being paid by the UAE while carrying out the operation.

He was receiving a six-figure annual retainer, as well as substantial bonuses, including a $1m payment weeks before his trip to London for an operation in Yemen.

ITV's investigation, based on witness testimony, emails, WhatsApp messages and financial records, found that Golan worked with a former US special forces operative to locate and monitor Altikriti.

Altikriti told Burnham in his letter: "Your government has spoken of deepening ties with the UAE. I ask you to explain how that ambition is compatible with credible evidence that the UAE funded an operation to kill me in London, and what conditions, on trust, transparency, and accountability, will now attach to that relationship."

He added that he would be "willing to meet with [Burnham] or with the relevant minister to discuss this matter directly".

Mercenary discussed physically eliminating Altrikriti

According to ITV, Golan told a British strategist assisting him that he was working for the UAE and that Abu Dhabi considered Altikriti and the Cordoba Foundation to be aligned with groups it regarded as terrorist organisations.

Golan contacted the British strategist, identified by ITV as "Victor", in November 2016, asking whether he had any "channels" to Altikriti and the Cordoba Foundation.

According to the report, Golan later travelled to London, where he offered Victor £50,000 ($68,000) to help locate Altikriti, increasing the offer to £100,000 ($136,000).

Golan shared photographs of Altikriti's home and car, maps and satellite images, and details of his movements between home and work.

At one meeting, Golan allegedly discussed the possibility of physically eliminating Altikriti. His associate, a former US Navy Seal, reportedly made a gesture across his throat when asked what could happen to the activist.

"I became increasingly worried about what this operation entailed," Victor told ITV.

Victor eventually withdrew from the operation after concluding it could involve an assassination.

Altikriti was later visited twice at his London home by police officers who warned him that his life could be at risk.

The officers did not tell him the source or nature of the threat.

Altikriti asked the prime minister to explain "why, if the threat was known, I was not given fuller information at the time it could have mattered most?"