The mainstream media for the most part has moved on. But there are a few more gleanings to be had, of perhaps the most interesting comes from the Daily Mirror, which labels al-Hilli an extremist on the grounds that he was against the war in Iraq, disapproved of the behaviour of Israel and had doubts over 9/11 – which makes a great deal of the population “extremist”. But the Mirror has the only mainstream mention I can find of the possibility that Mossad carried out the killings. Given Mr al-Hilli’s profession, the fact he is a Shia, the fact he had visited Iran, and the fact that Israel heas been assassinating scientists connected to Iran’s nuclear programme, this has to be a possibility. There are of course other possibilities, but to ignore that one is ludicrous.
Which leads me to the argument of Daily Mail crime reporter, Stephen Wright, that the French police should concentrate on the idea that this was a killing by a random Alpine madman or racist bigot. Perfectly possible, of course, and the anti-Muslim killings in Marseille might be as much a precedent as Mossad killings of scientists. But why the lone madman idea should be the preferred investigation, Mr Wright does not explain. What I did find interesting from a man who has visited many crime scenes are his repeated insinuations that the French authorities are not really trying very hard to find who the killers were, for example:
the crime scene would have been sealed off for a minimum of seven to ten days, to allow detailed forensic searches for DNA, fibres, tyre marks and shoe prints to take place.
Nearby bushes and vegetation would have been searched for any discarded food and cigarette butts left by the killer, not to mention the murder weapon.
But from what I saw at the end of last week, no such searches had taken place and potentially vital evidence could have been missed. House to house inquiries in the local area had yet to be completed and police had not made specific public appeals for information about the crime. No reward had been put up for information about the shootings.
Behind the scenes, what other short cuts have been taken? Have police seized data identifying all mobile phones being used in the vicinity of the murders that day?
The idea that the French authorities – who are quite as capable as any other of solving cases – are not really trying very hard is an interesting one.
Which leads me to this part of a remarkable article from the Daily Telegraph, which if true points us back towards a hit squad and discounts the ides that there was only one gun:
Claims that only one gun was used to kill everybody is likely to be disproved by full ballistics test results which are out in October.
While the 25 spent bullet cartridges found at the scene are all of the same kind, they could in fact have come from a number of weapons of the same make.
This throws up the possibility of a well-equipped, highly-trained gang circling the car and then opening fire.
Both children were left alive by the killers, who had clinically pumped bullets into everybody else, including five into Mr Mollier.
Zainab was found staggering around outside the car by Brett Martin, a British former RAF serviceman who cycled by moments after the attack, but he saw nobody except the schoolgirl.
Her sister, Zeena, was found unscathed and hiding in the car eight hours later.
Both sisters are now back in Britain, and are believed to have been reunited at a secret location near London.
There are of course a number of hit squad options, both governmental and private, which might well involve iraqi or Iranian interests – on both of which the mainstream media have been very happy to speculate while almost unanimously ignoring Israel.
But what interests me is why the Daily Telegraph choose, in the face of all the evidence, to minimise the horrific nature of the attack by stating that “Both children were left alive by the killers”? Zainab was not left alive by design, she was shot in the chest and her skull was stove in, which presumably was a pretty serious attempt to kill a seven year-old child. The other girl might very well have succeeded in hiding from the killers under her mother’s skirts, as she hid from the first rescuers, and then for eight hours from the police.
The Telegraph article claims to be informed by sources close to the investigation. So they believe it was a group of people, and feel motivated to absolve those people from child-killing. Now what could the Daily Telegraph be thinking?
“a settling of scores between the travellers and the gendarmerie”
could have come direct from the mouth of Eric Maillaud.
Hold fire a wee bit.
Are we being sold a Mickey Finn here ?
Lynda a “deadzone” brought this up.
Why is this being released now ?
Are we saying that the police with all their “power” only found this out now ?
And the “released it” to us ?
Now “that” is the false flag.
@ Mr Du Wonde.
What a great idea.
Me an the boyz here (and Katie) would like to send you some money.
Do you think 1000 Dollars each is enough ?
We’ll try to get more…but ya know these hard times and all.
P.S. Do you have any “semi legal” U.S. Dollars we can buy ?
We’re willing to pay 2 500 000 for a 1 000 000 and we can send it to your Nigerian Bank Account ASAP.
Lova Ya.
James
(What a dick !)
I seem to have re-entered the fray at an opportune moment. All praise to you people for continuing to beaver away and particularly the enigmatic BB of course. With regard to your Bluebird
9 Jul, 2014 – 1:35 am post BB the thought I’ve had for a long time, and I don’t think mentioned by anyone else, relates to Iqbal’s dentistry issue. You suggest poss. of facial surgery BB. Maybe I’m not thinking as well as you but I can’t quite see an application in relation to all the Iraq stuff. Thought I had – I agree it may be far fetched but will throw it into the cock-pit anyway – is in relation to the utility of dentures or teeth implants for concealing information or material. Even the nazis used concealed poison there. Even the most intimate body search would be unlikely to uncover it. A filling could even contain a sample metal. Just an idea.no more than that.
The puzzle is, as someone pointed out (sorry I can’t remember who) why if she was a qualified dentist, she goes back to college to learn how to make dentures. Could be, as was suggested, provided more flexibility. Another reason might be it was thought to be a useful skill for covert purposes without undue questions being asked.
Lots more co-incidences and strange features thrown up by this latest revelation as many have highlighted. Just a few I noticed: Our friend Vinnemann says Thompson was a dentist? Turns out he’s actually “ex-policeman”, oil man and now general contractor nearing retirement? Is this just more French incompetence or intentional. We have no info. on his police career. Until we do the CIA option is very real possibility, for which “policeman could either be good cover to the family, or their attempt to cover his real job. The biker (complete with trademark moustache) with “links to thugs” strikes me much more CIA than local cop. Nor do we need to be reminded of the deep and resistant links between CIA and crime (replicated by MI6) Then there is the inexplicable delay in the link becoming public particularly if family members are now suggesting they thought murder was a possibility at the time.
So now, if the story is true, we have another piece of the jigsaw that proves this was not an “ordinary” crime and that the involvement of at least one and probably five secret agencies were involved one way or another. We now have links to the top of Iraqi society in no less than four directly related families PLUS clear, indisputable CIA/MI6 links to SAH, his father, his uncle, and probably his wife, her previous husband and his brother-in-law. This is beyond coincidence. Now we have a spouse dying at almost the same time on the same day, both sides of the Atlantic (albeit 6/7 hours behind)!
If Iqbal was CIA, it is feasible as I suggested above, she was a plant on SAH to act as inside informer on what the British were up to with SAH. Bremmer said as much in Iraq when he worked to prevent the British taking control using Allawi, where the Al Hillis also had a leading role. This replicated longstanding American policy/friction dating back to Suez and prior with the whole anti-empire stance. The pragmatic reason was oil and America’s determination to keep control of the asset. (Ironically we are back in with the Turkey pipeline/Kirkuk link and the Iraq split into three) Apologies for shorthand.
So what if the British operation was actually compromised by Iqbal not realising the consequences? That shadowy figures on the Israeli/American side took the decision to neutralise the three and teach the British a lesson and put them in their place. I still think SM was the link into the French metallurgy arena as they related to Iran nuclear who had to go as well.
OK just speculation but the latest revelation makes it more not less likely.
these developments in america are not unrelated
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152346479099442&set=a.10150467482724442.366598.108102704441&type=1&theater
http://www.councilforthenationalinterest.org/new/israeli-forces-kill-41-palestinians-in-gaza-in-the-last-two-days/#.U73U3PldU6O
Frankly Tim, no matter what Iqbal was in the past, at the end of her life she was none of those things .
She lived in England ,was a mother & according to ‘friends’ they kept themselves to themselves IE: did not entertain much,lived modestly & took cheap holidays….so what could she be doing as a spy ?
I firmly believe, still, this is an Iraqi issue dating back to the Ba’ath party & Saddam days. As someone was reported as saying, Iraqis have long memories.
Were Saad & Iqbal colluding & digging for historic information to expose those who cheated them , did news get out that they were trying to make contact with old informants & party members to get information…… piecing together the events of that time which someone preferred to have buried ?
Let’s face it, wouldn’t you do the same if your family had been stripped of their wealth by corrupt people in your parents past & the reason you were having to live in exile ?
They were at an ages where it’s normal to start researching the family tree/past.
Iqbal could have been a sleeper,
as well as a dental implant specialist,
was there a dental laboratory in their shed in Claygate?
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/487871/FBI-offer-to-exhume-body-of-Alps-murder-victim-s-ex-husband
Quote The Express
“THE body of the secret former husband of a British woman gunned down with her family in the Alps could be exhumed to find if he too was murdered on the same day.”
It would be very interesting to know
if any members of the Al Hilli family had previously met with Sylvain Mollier.
We should not forget about the 50 year old ex-soldier who was found shot dead in his apartment in Ugine.
Eric knows he was association with the family Mollier.
He had been questioned soon after the event, on what he knew of the Chevaline Massacre.
Eric has assumed it was suicide because of the six or seven page letter.
How likely is it that after almost six weeks since this mans “suicide” his name has not yet been released?
Quote Evening Standard
“A firearm was used to kill a former soldier who believed he was a suspect in the gun murders of a British engineer and his family in the Alps.”
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/exsoldier-who-said-he-was-alps-murder-suspect-is-found-dead-9487130.html
Katie
10 Jul, 2014 – 9:30 am in response to your observation : “She lived in England,was a mother & according to ‘friends’ they kept themselves to themselves IE: did not entertain much,lived modestly & took cheap holidays….so what could she be doing as a spy ?” reveals either a lack of knowledge, naivety or misdirection.
The one thing plants do NOT do is draw attention to themselves. They are usually the model of “normality” and discretion. Being “nice to neighbours” is often one of the traits instilled on commissioning.
A quick troll of American and Russian spies throws up mainly men but the women can be instructive as to standard operating procedure perhaps. (Marriage/false identity/careful placement/inconspicuous lifestyle) KGB had a preference for Russian Jews and frequency with which Jewish names appear cannot be ignored. Perhaps natural intelligence is a prerequisite for intelligence work?
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Zarubina
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Foster_Zlatovski “Foster married Dutch diplomat Alleendert Kamper[2] in October 1936. She and Kamper separated after 18 months. Foster, required to spend five months on Dutch soil in order to finalize the divorce, travelled to Bali. She remained there until September 1939, returning to the United States due to the British declaration of war on Germany.[1]:31 She briefly joined the Communist Party in 1938.[3]”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_M._Scranage “Scranage, who worked in Ghana in the role of Operations Support Assistant, passed classified information to her boyfriend, Michael Soussoudis. Soussoudis, a Ghanaian citizen with permanent residence in the United States, was a Ghanaian intelligence officer who had been assigned to seduce Scranage and solicit US intelligence from her.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_Phillips “Working with a young Filipino dancer named Fely Corcuera, Phillips arranged forged papers and created a new identity for herself as a Philippine-born Italian dancer named Dorothy Clara Fuentes. Together the two women established a cabaret titled “Club Tsubaki”, a gentleman’s club that would quickly become popular with Japanese officers in Manila. Using the cabaret as a cover, Phillips began an extensive spy ring which harvested information from the Japanese officers who patronized the club.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Koral “Helen Koral was the wife of Alexander Koral, both were Americans who allegedly worked for Soviet intelligence during World War II. The Koral’s headed the “Art” or “Berg” group of Soviet spies.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Caldwell Callen was assigned by Dr. Gregory Rabinowitz to go to New York and infiltrate the Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party (SWP) using the pseudonym “Sylvia Caldwell”. She became the secretary of James Cannon, who headed the SWP. Callen later testified to a federal grand jury about her infiltration of the SWP and about how she provided information from the SWP offices to Rabinowitz. Rabinowitz was later replaced by Jack Soble. She had been married for a time to Zalmond Franklin, who also served Soviet intelligence. For a time, she was also known as Sylvia Lorraine Doxsee.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Coplon “An extensive counter-intelligence operation planted a secret document for her to pass to the Soviets. FBI agents arrested Coplon on March 4, 1949 in Manhattan as she met with Valentin Gubitchev, a KGB official employed by the United Nations, while carrying what she believed were secret U.S. government documents in her purse.[3][4]”
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-06-01/the-americans-the-real-russian-spies “Chapman, 28, who held a British passport after a brief marriage to a man she met in London, went from undercover to overexposed by posing in lingerie for a Russian men’s magazine. She later became a TV presenter in Moscow and flirted with a political career by joining Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party. The real-life spies posed as married couples embedded deep in their communities and had children who seemingly knew nothing of their parents’ double lives.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2308427/Suburban-New-Jersey-home-married-KGB-agents-inspired-The-Americans-TV-goes-market.html “Richard and Cynthia Murphy were exposed in 2010 as Russian spies Vladimir and Lydia Guryev. The Guryevs were among 11 sleeper agents who were sent to the US decades earlier by the KGB with instructions to blend into day-to-day life.”
@ Katie
She lived in England ,was a mother & according to ‘friends’ they kept themselves to themselves IE: did not entertain much,lived modestly & took cheap holidays….so what could she be doing as a spy ?
More than you would think. Everybody needs to have their teeth looked at / professionally cleaned at least twice a year. Thus, being a dentist / dental hygienist is perfect cover for regularly meeting with a wide range of people. It would be exceedingly easy to combine those encounters with the bread-and-butter work of running agents: collecting USB thumb drives and other materials that they bring in, disbursing their payments, handing out equipment and giving them the occasional pep talk, before finally sending them on their way with a pearly-white smile that at the same time constitutes their legend for the meet.
For a muslim woman, this set-up has another considerable advantage: Being a healthcare professional is a great excuse for one-on-one meetings with men to whom she is not related, an excuse that even extremely religious types accept. In countries such as the UAE (where she is said to have worked as a dentist), it is pretty much the only way in which a woman can meet male strangers behind closed doors without incurring problems with the religious police.
A third major advantage is that dentistry is a highly transferable, highly sought-after skill that one can practice absolutely everywhere in the world. There are not many other professions that allow their practitioners to move between countries with comparable ease. All in all, from the point of view of an intelligence service looking for a case officer to handle agents within muslim countries / communities, it is an unbeatable combination.
At least in the UK, Iqbal worked in practices run by Iraqi dentists. I assume that this means that a fair percentage of the patients had Iraqi roots as well. This would have put her in a great position to run a network amongst the Iraqi community in Greater London. I don’t know whether there is an Iraqi community in Mississippi, or whether she worked in a dental practice catering to that community, but I should not be at all surprised if she did.
All that maybe so Peter, but doing what ?
What was she organising some sort of terror plot ?
I don’t think so.
I agree before the Iraqi invasion intelligence gathering would be valuable especially as it was the UK Iraqis who were pushing for an invasion. But now years on ?
Tim, of course I know that, but my concern is now.
Her past may have been colourful, but at the time of her death what do you think she was planning. She didn’t even travel much. The global spy angle is surely out of date ?
Even if it isn’t, the best she could do as a dentist is gain information on UK Iraqis activities, but use it how,planning a coup in Iraq ?
I can’t see we have any great interest in Iraq now.
Of course I wasn’t thinking of a terror plot 😉
Her task would have been information-gathering, logistics, the nuts and bolts of espionage, getting information from her sources back to HQ (wherever that may be) and paying her sources their thirty shillings.
Anyway: Remember that neighbour who claimed that Saad had been kept under police surveillance? It was later denied that he had been kept under surveillance, and that he had ever appeared on MI5’s radar. What if that denial is perfectly true, as far as it goes – because she, the erstwhile Mrs Kelly Thompson, had been the one they were watching?
This interesting lady was in the NSA at time of 9/11. Despite that organisations failures (replicated elsewhere) she was later PROMOTED to FBI. She now apparently works as National Security Advisor (note abbreviation) for SERCO.
Maureen Baginski
Maureen Baginski
Maureen Baginski began her cryptologic career as a Russian Language instructor in 1979. During her tenure, Ms. Baginski held various operational management positions, including a tour as a Senior Operations Officer in the National Security Operations Center and the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) National Intelligence Officer for Russia.
Ms. Baginski held the position of Signals Intelligence Director during the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. She directed the Extended SIGINT Enterprise during this time to acquire, produce, and disseminate foreign SIGINT to a wide variety of government and military customers. She interacted with the Executive Branch, members of the Intelligence Community, and worldwide SIGINT partners providing crucial information during a critical time. She left NSA to take a senior position at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
FBI Announces New Role for Maureen A. Baginski
Washington, D.C.
August 11, 2005
FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691
Maureen A. Baginski, the executive assistant director for Intelligence, is taking on a new role at the FBI. After two years of leading the FBI’s intelligence program, she plans to retire from government service and return as a senior advisor to the FBI.
Under Ms. Baginski’s leadership, the FBI has considerably enhanced its capacity to fuse intelligence from across the Bureau and is using intelligence to direct and guide collection. Ms. Baginski developed and built an intelligence infrastructure with dedicated intelligence groups in every field office and the Directorate of Intelligence at Headquarters to manage all FBI intelligence activities—from collection to dissemination—to ensure that the FBI’s intelligence activities are integrated with its investigative operations. Ms. Baginski also led the development of a professional intelligence career service and implemented new hiring practices, training, and a clear career path that gives intelligence professionals opportunities for development and advancement to upper management ranks.
The president, in his June 28, 2005, memorandum, and the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD Commission) in its report, noted the FBI’s significant improvements in its intelligence program.
Director Mueller said, “Our progress of the past two years would not have been possible without the efforts of Maureen Baginski. The National Security Branch is the next step in the FBI’s evolution and will be constructed on the strong foundation that Maureen built. I have asked her to return as a senior advisor to the FBI to continue to bring her considerable vision and energy to our overall transformation efforts.”
She will divide her time between work at the FBI and other service of critical importance to the national security community.http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-announces-new-role-for-maureen-a.-baginski
An obscure video with some fascinating insights and connections between this lady/explosives/Boston/Gill/NSA/MI6/remote detonation/Serco/pedophilia All a bit far-fetched but with elements of truth? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbJrp_nmhPQ
Another astute summary Peter
10 Jul, 2014 – 1:01 pm
a list of her patients might be revealing…
As I understand it Peter, all Iraqis at that time were under surveillance,understandably so.
It could well be that the Al Hillis were watched because of their ties to Saddam,nothing more.
Watching a mother & kids makes no sense whatsoever.
Tapping phones & computers of a ‘suspect’, would be far more informative .
Yes so gathering information to send to HQ for what ?
I’m simply asking you to question what you are saying in a practical sense.
We also know that expats of all nationalities gather together, I would prefer to go to an English dentist rather than a French dentist & most are like that because communication is better.
Sometimes people know a foreign language well but do not understand the nuance, attitude or cultural stance.
Katie
10 Jul, 2014 – 1:23 pm you say “I can’t see we have any great interest in Iraq now.” Your “sang froid” never ceases to take my breath away not to mention diametrically reality averse! (If there is such a thing) Have you not heard of the Kirkuk/Turkish pipeline not to mention all the other ISIS/Iran/Israel/Syria/Egypt stuff? Well of course you have, so how could you come out with a statement like that? Obviously not a follower of Tony Blair or noticed gun toting cops at Heathrow which Cameron now says are permanent, or taping law that only takes a week to pass, etc etc ALL of which is connected to Iraq.
What Tim, you think someone with their mouth wide open in the dentist chair is going to say he’s planted a bomb on a plane ? When parents don’t even know their own kids have gone there.
The Al Hilli murders were long before this .
What is happening now is not our doing, the cause is an entirely different matter, they want a Sharia state. Isis is not fighting us, they hate America.
We, British airlines are simply being cautious & no I don’t care, as long as muslims go there to fight let them.
It takes one nutter to make a speech about his intentions & the world goes wild. That gives terrorists all the propaganda they need.FEAR.
We have excellent security services who have men inside a number of terror groups,to feed information back.
There was an hour long interview with one yesterday,a Dane, he has now come out & joined the CIA.
Blue….
Link the “family” to Al Hilli (or there abouts).
And that maybe the answer ?
A very “timely” and “convenient” marriage (she has done them before).
Add in a little bit of “what have we here….a nice bit of cash”.
And that could be your “killing”.
Except the “killer” was already paid.
And he wasn’t going to let “loose tongues” get him caught.
Just a thought.
And…. she aint no dentist. And no spy either.
“Since the ANTHOGYR Training Center was opened in 2000, each year more than 650 practitioners from all around the world have had the opportunity to attend the training sessions. The continuing education program includes more than 50 sessions per year; it is designed to allow dental practitioners to stay current with the latest innovations and techniques and to refine their skills and practical knowledge.”
This town seems to host several world class dental implant businesses.
http://www.anthogyr.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sallanches
Not to far from the camping where the Al Hillis were staying.
Perhaps Iqbal was going to combine her Savoie camping holiday with a sniff around the World class dental implant centres?
news from Daily Fail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2687572/Iraqi-denies-arranged-marriage-Alps-massacre-mother-U-S-man-claims-died-day-pure-coincidence.html
they finally found Al Shaikhly, too.
I dont believe a word he said. And i dont believe that he went to Alamogordo to fill shelves.
quote
NewsEXCLUSIVE: Iraqi denies he ‘arranged’ marriage of Alps massacre mother to ‘secret’ U.S. husband and claims it is just an ‘unbelievable coincidence’ that they both died on same day
By Will Payne In Alamogordo, New Mexico and Daniel Bates16:55 10 Jul 2014, updated 17:17 10 Jul 2014
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Sabah Alshaikhly introduced Iqbal Al-Hilli to James Thompson, from Natchez, MississippiThey were married briefly in 1999 – 13 years before Mrs Al-Hilli was killed alongside her second husband, Saad, in the Alps in a gun ambushFrench police revealed this week that Mr Thompson died on the SAME dayHis family expressed fears that he may have been poisonedBut Mr Alshaikhly believes that it was ‘pure coincidence’ and Mr Thompson died of a heart attackHe also refuted claims from Mr Thompson’s family that it was an ‘arranged marriage’ in exchange for a green card and her buying him a Honda car
An Iraqi man who introduced the Alps massacre mother to her ‘secret ex-husband’ today broke his silence to deny he ‘arranged’ their marriage and claimed the fact they both died on the same day is just an ‘unbelievable coincidence’.
Sabah Alshaikhly acted as a match-maker between Iqbal Al-Hilli – who was killed when her family’s car was strafed with gunfire in France on September 5 2012 – and American James Thompson – who died from a heart attack on exactly the same day.
Their brief marriage only came to light on Tuesday when French police investigating the infamous Alps shooting released the information in a bombshell announcement.
Just hours later Thompson’s daughter, Joy Martinolich spoke exclusively to MailOnline to express her fears that her father may have been poisoned.
She also revealed that the FBI became involved in the case last year and even said she would not be against her father’s body being exhumed to find out if he really died because of foul play.
It is a fascinating twist in the Alps killings that claimed the life of four people, including British residents Iqbal and her husband Saad Al-Hilli, her mother Suhaila al Allaf and French cyclist Sylvain Mollierat.
But Mr Alshaikhly has insisted the death of Mrs Al-Hilli and first husband Mr Thompson, who was 13 years her senior are completely unrelated.
He lived with Mrs Al-Hilli – who he called by the American nickname, Kelly – for three months, just before her marriage and he cannot think of any reason why anybody would want to kill her.
He was married to 60-year-old Mr Thompson’s niece, Mary Weatherly. He completely dismissed the suggestion that the family were in any way involved in the Alps shooting.
‘If I thought Jimmy had anything to do with this I would kick his a*** from here to China, but he was very nice to her and she was happy’ – Sabah Alshaikhly
Speaking to MailOnline, the US resident, who moved from Baghdad in 1976, said: ‘The two deaths are hard to understand, but they are just an unbelievable coincidence. Coincidences can happen.
‘Jim died of natural causes, of a heart attack. He had a very unhealthy diet. He ate fried chicken, hamburgers, fries. I said to him, “this is going to kill you”, and he replied, “but at least I’ll die happy”.
‘Three months later he was dead. If he had been killed by a gun, I would have said, investigate, but he died naturally.’
He went on: ‘I lived with Kelly for a few months and she was super nice, very respectful and very respectable. We went to the mall together and cooked together in the house and she never said or did anything that made me suspect anything was wrong with her.
‘She told me about her family in Iraq and as far as I know there were no political links. I was very surprised and upset when I heard of her death.
‘I am sure her death had nothing to do with anyone in America. We would have nothing to gain by killing that beautiful lady.
‘We all loved and respected her and we were incredibly upset by the news she passed. She was far too young. We left on good terms and there was no bad blood. Jim loved her. She was happy, but I guess she got homesick. She wanted to leave so he let her leave.
‘If I thought Jimmy had anything to do with this I would kick his a*** from here to China, but he was very nice to her and she was happy.’
He added: ‘I did not know her new husband, so this is pure speculation, but if he had important links to the Iraqi government, or he was very important or wealthy, then the people investigating this should look at Mossad.
‘They are very professional and if they want someone gone, they will do it no problem and no one will know. All I know is this was not from Kelly’s side, so maybe it was something to do with her husband. Those are my thoughts.’
Mr Alshaikhly, 62, met Mrs Al-Hilli in 1999. A Dubai-based doctor contacted him and said he had a friend who had recently moved to the US and was looking for a place to stay.
He explained: ‘My friend called me and said Kelly had been in America for a few months and she had no money and nowhere to stay.
‘I wanted to be a good person so I let her stay with me in Atlanta. She had moved out here to be a doctor, so I took her to Emory University to see if it was possible.
‘She was already highly qualified, but they said she needed to go to medical school for one year and then take exams. She did not want to do that.
One day I went to visit my wife’s mother in New Orleans and I took Kelly with me. Jim was there and they got on well.
‘We went back to Atlanta, there was contact between her and Jim and then she moved up to live with him. The next thing I heard they had got married. I was happy; they are both adults so they can do what they want.’
It has been suggested that Mr Alshaikhly somehow arranged the marriage for immigration purposes.
Mr Thompson’s daughter even claimed her father received a car as part of the arrangement, saying: ‘My father struck a deal with her. She got my dad a Honda.’
Mr Alshaikhly completely dismissed this, saying: ‘Hell no, he never had a car, he had a truck and a motorcycle. They met by chance. She wanted a green card and I think she got one, but I don’t know anything about that.’
Soon after the 1999 marriage, the couple split up and Mr Alshaikhly says Mrs Al-Hilli moved back to Dubai. He explains: ‘I don’t know why she left. I was surprised. I know she missed Dubai and she missed her profession.
‘She was not the kind of girl to go out to nightclubs, she was Muslim, he was Christian, I guess she just got homesick.’
NewsEXCLUSIVE: Iraqi denies he ‘arranged’ marriage of Alps massacre mother to ‘secret’ U.S. husband and claims it is just an ‘unbelievable coincidence’ that they both died on same day
By Will Payne In Alamogordo, New Mexico and Daniel Bates16:55 10 Jul 2014, updated 17:17 10 Jul 2014
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Sabah Alshaikhly introduced Iqbal Al-Hilli to James Thompson, from Natchez, MississippiThey were married briefly in 1999 – 13 years before Mrs Al-Hilli was killed alongside her second husband, Saad, in the Alps in a gun ambushFrench police revealed this week that Mr Thompson died on the SAME dayHis family expressed fears that he may have been poisonedBut Mr Alshaikhly believes that it was ‘pure coincidence’ and Mr Thompson died of a heart attackHe also refuted claims from Mr Thompson’s family that it was an ‘arranged marriage’ in exchange for a green card and her buying him a Honda car
An Iraqi man who introduced the Alps massacre mother to her ‘secret ex-husband’ today broke his silence to deny he ‘arranged’ their marriage and claimed the fact they both died on the same day is just an ‘unbelievable coincidence’.
Sabah Alshaikhly acted as a match-maker between Iqbal Al-Hilli – who was killed when her family’s car was strafed with gunfire in France on September 5 2012 – and American James Thompson – who died from a heart attack on exactly the same day.
Their brief marriage only came to light on Tuesday when French police investigating the infamous Alps shooting released the information in a bombshell announcement.
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Denials: Sabah Alshaikhly, left, told MailOnline he introduced James Thompson, right, to Iqbal Al-Hilli, but refuted claims from the family that it was an ‘arranged’ marriage for a green card
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Denials: Sabah Alshaikhly, left, told MailOnline he introduced James Thompson, right, to Iqbal Al-Hilli, but refuted claims from the family that it was an ‘arranged’ marriage for a green cardSuspicions: French police revealed the existence of Mr Thompson and called him a ‘secret’ second husband before suggesting he had something to do with the slaughter of Mrs Iqbal and her husband Saad (pictured together with their two daughters who survived the attack). They also revealed he died on the same day in 2012
Just hours later Thompson’s daughter, Joy Martinolich spoke exclusively to MailOnline to express her fears that her father may have been poisoned.
She also revealed that the FBI became involved in the case last year and even said she would not be against her father’s body being exhumed to find out if he really died because of foul play.
It is a fascinating twist in the Alps killings that claimed the life of four people, including British residents Iqbal and her husband Saad Al-Hilli, her mother Suhaila al Allaf and French cyclist Sylvain Mollierat.
But Mr Alshaikhly has insisted the death of Mrs Al-Hilli and first husband Mr Thompson, who was 13 years her senior are completely unrelated.
He lived with Mrs Al-Hilli – who he called by the American nickname, Kelly – for three months, just before her marriage and he cannot think of any reason why anybody would want to kill her.
He was married to 60-year-old Mr Thompson’s niece, Mary Weatherly. He completely dismissed the suggestion that the family were in any way involved in the Alps shooting.
‘If I thought Jimmy had anything to do with this I would kick his a*** from here to China, but he was very nice to her and she was happy’ – Sabah Alshaikhly
Speaking to MailOnline, the US resident, who moved from Baghdad in 1976, said: ‘The two deaths are hard to understand, but they are just an unbelievable coincidence. Coincidences can happen.
‘Jim died of natural causes, of a heart attack. He had a very unhealthy diet. He ate fried chicken, hamburgers, fries. I said to him, “this is going to kill you”, and he replied, “but at least I’ll die happy”.
‘Three months later he was dead. If he had been killed by a gun, I would have said, investigate, but he died naturally.’
He went on: ‘I lived with Kelly for a few months and she was super nice, very respectful and very respectable. We went to the mall together and cooked together in the house and she never said or did anything that made me suspect anything was wrong with her.
‘She told me about her family in Iraq and as far as I know there were no political links. I was very surprised and upset when I heard of her death.
‘I am sure her death had nothing to do with anyone in America. We would have nothing to gain by killing that beautiful lady.
‘We all loved and respected her and we were incredibly upset by the news she passed. She was far too young. We left on good terms and there was no bad blood. Jim loved her. She was happy, but I guess she got homesick. She wanted to leave so he let her leave.
‘If I thought Jimmy had anything to do with this I would kick his a*** from here to China, but he was very nice to her and she was happy.’
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Slaughter: Four people were killed in the attack in the Alps. The Saad couple, Iqbal’s mother, and a French cyclist who was in the area at the same time. After two years the French police seem no closer to solving it
He added: ‘I did not know her new husband, so this is pure speculation, but if he had important links to the Iraqi government, or he was very important or wealthy, then the people investigating this should look at Mossad.
‘They are very professional and if they want someone gone, they will do it no problem and no one will know. All I know is this was not from Kelly’s side, so maybe it was something to do with her husband. Those are my thoughts.’
Mr Alshaikhly, 62, met Mrs Al-Hilli in 1999. A Dubai-based doctor contacted him and said he had a friend who had recently moved to the US and was looking for a place to stay.
He explained: ‘My friend called me and said Kelly had been in America for a few months and she had no money and nowhere to stay.
‘I wanted to be a good person so I let her stay with me in Atlanta. She had moved out here to be a doctor, so I took her to Emory University to see if it was possible.
‘She was already highly qualified, but they said she needed to go to medical school for one year and then take exams. She did not want to do that.
MORE…Exhume my father’s body to see if there is a link to Alps killings: Was victim’s ex-husband poisoned, daughter asksEXCLUSIVE: The secret American husband of British mother slaughtered in French Alps massacre – who died on the SAME DAY – may have been killed ‘by poison’, fear his family
‘One day I went to visit my wife’s mother in New Orleans and I took Kelly with me. Jim was there and they got on well.
‘We went back to Atlanta, there was contact between her and Jim and then she moved up to live with him. The next thing I heard they had got married. I was happy; they are both adults so they can do what they want.’
It has been suggested that Mr Alshaikhly somehow arranged the marriage for immigration purposes.
Mr Thompson’s daughter even claimed her father received a car as part of the arrangement, saying: ‘My father struck a deal with her. She got my dad a Honda.’
Mr Alshaikhly completely dismissed this, saying: ‘Hell no, he never had a car, he had a truck and a motorcycle. They met by chance. She wanted a green card and I think she got one, but I don’t know anything about that.’
Soon after the 1999 marriage, the couple split up and Mr Alshaikhly says Mrs Al-Hilli moved back to Dubai. He explains: ‘I don’t know why she left. I was surprised. I know she missed Dubai and she missed her profession.
‘She was not the kind of girl to go out to nightclubs, she was Muslim, he was Christian, I guess she just got homesick.’
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Fears: Mr Thompson’s family said they had been contacted by the FBI who wanted to exhume his body. His official cause of death was a heart attack, but the coincidence and FBI involvement has led to speculation he may have been poisoned. His daughter, Joy Martinolich, told MailOnline she would not be against exhumation
In 2006, Mr Alshaikhly split from his wife, soon after returning from a trip to Iraq. He moved to Alamogordo, New Mexico bought a trailer and got a job stacking shelves in Lowe’s Home Improvement store.
He is still in touch with Mr Thompson’s family. He said: ‘It is very sad, but I know the answer to this mystery is not in America.’
On Tuesday, when the French authorities revealed Mrs Al-Hilli’s marriage to someone they called, ‘James T’ they implied that his death in Natchez, Mississippi, may have been more than a freak co-incidence.
The official cause of death was a heart-attack, according to Lt Col Benoit Vinnemann, one of the most senior police commanders working on the case, but ‘we still haven’t had a response to certain questions,’ he added, saying that ‘we have discovered some astonishing things.’
The family of former policeman and oil worker Mr Thompson say they have had no contact with the French police and were completely unaware of Lt Col Vinnemann’s announcement until it was made public.
They contacted the FBI on Tuesday when they were alerted to the shocking French claims.
In her interview with MailOnline Joy Martinolich said: ‘If you wanted to kill somebody and get away with it you would do something that people would accept like a heart attack.
‘They would accept he was a bit overweight, that he had stress issues, he was pushing 60. It’s possible’.
But yesterday, the French authorities seemed to back track on their earlier assertions, telling the BBC they are not connecting the two deaths.
Prosecutor for the town of Annecy, Eric Maillaud said: ‘He died from a heart attack on 5 September 2012. This was confirmed by an American doctor. No link is being made with the Chevaline killings.’
But Miss Martinolich says she still wants answers, telling MailOnline: ‘I would not have a problem with the exhumation for the simple fact that the corpse there is not my father, it’s just the shell of him.
‘If there is something in there I would want to know what it is. If there is something in his body I would want to know what it is. If the FBI agree I would comply with it.’
The attack on the Al-Hillis, of Claygate, Surrey, has left investigators in France completely baffled. The couple’s two daughters Zainab, seven at the time, and Zeena, who was four were in the car when the gun man opened fire, but they were spared.
The family originally came from Iraq, and one theory is that their links to the regime of former dictator Saddam Hussein may be a reason for their murders.
There have also been claims that Mr Al-Hilli was involved in a dispute over a family inheritance with his brother Zaid Al-Hilli, 54, of Chessington, Surrey.
He was arrested last year under suspicion of conspiracy to murder but then released because of a complete lack of evidence.
Reports have even suggested that the Al-Hilli’s hastily-arranged family holiday was actually a cover to meet Mollier, who was not just a cyclist.
BB,
I see nothing wrong with a ‘highly qualified’ professional going back to school on arrival in a new country. This could easily be explained by having to meet ‘ another ‘ country’s standards.Or to familiarise on English speaking names & terms etc.
I’m sure all procedures do not share the same language or names of tools & equipment.
@Katie
Show me the “highly qualified professional” here ?
I see some “no mark” marring another “no mark”.
No spies, no dentist, no nothing.
The “relevant thing” is, she was willing to marry….for a deal.
That is significant
Although TimV will no doubt “cut n paste” more stuff !
I met “Chapman”. She worked for a US private aviation co (sure you can google who). She was normal…..and she was “wanting more”. Just another “loon”, not a spy) Lets see if Tim can find out which aviation Co she worked for ! He says he “finds things out”…. so 10, 9, 8, 7 …….
Hi James, I was just quoting someone.
I absolutely agree this woman was not a professional career woman, she strikes me as a drifter…Sweden,Dubai, US,Dubai,the UK. Sounds like indecision to marry & leave the husband so soon after he’d done so much………….
A woman finally settling down & having children rather late in life….in her forties….very unusual for a muslim female.
Thompson could well have been running a racket making a living out of marrying women to get them a green card. If our ‘ Kelly’ could change to a western name who says the previous wives had not done the same ?
One report says Iqbal was broke others say she bought Jim a motorbike. Frankly……………..we should take nothing as fact.
Now don’t go upsetting our Tim, he can’t take it he’s a sensitive soul. :-)))
If James Thompson died peacefully at the wheel of his vehicle, it may just be a coincidence that Iqbal died in a hit, the same day on a different continent but if he died by poison dart,
the smell of fish gets stronger.
Why have the Americans not done an autopsy.
What could they possibly have to conceal?
@Katie
I mustn’t upset him I agree ! He’ll think I dislike him !!!!
He’s paranoid enough….without me coming in to haunt him.
As you say (and I say), I think Iqbal was a “drifter” as such.
The “dentist” just doesn’t add up.
And to be honest, that is fair enough. Good luck to her. ]
She ended up in a house in Surrey…..
So tell me this. When did Saad’s fathers wealth come out ?
When did she know about that ?