My post on the shootings in France has brought tens of thousands of people to this site – but not to read my dull contribution. People are coming to read the comments from other readers.
Today’s development of the bomb squad descending on the al-Hilli house does not in itself worry me enormously. You may recall the massive terror scare that was ramped up when some Muslim students in Manchester were found to own a bag of sugar.
In fact we have the opposite phenomenon today, with the spook-fed “security correspondents” on TV lining up to tell us it is probably just everyday household stuff. This deviation from the standard Islamophobic “Muslims = bombs” narrative is so startling it makes me wonder why the “move along, nothing to see here” line is being taken so quickly.
My own security services sources insist that al-Hilli was not a person of current interest to the UK intelligence agencies and was not involved in anything clandestine. I have no reason to disbelieve them. On the other hand, the limited and confusing information in the media is almost entirely from official sources. I find it very strange indeed how little attention has been paid to the murdered French cyclist, and how easily it is presumed he was just a passerby. Surely it is as likely he was the intended victim and the al-Hillis the accidental witnesses?
Please do read the comments on my first entry on the subject to see the debate unfettered by the censorship in the mainstream media. This is perhaps my favourite comment:
From Janesmith101
All comments regarding Sylvain, Al-Hilli and a possible nuclear link are being removed from sites I’ve posted on in The Guardian, Independent and Huffpo UK.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/sep/09/alps-killer-motive-baffles-police
Here was my comment, I added as a point of fact it was completely speculative and an unproven theory in a later comment, also removed.
Sylvain Mollier, the ‘passing’ cyclist, was in fact a nuclear metallurgist who worked for a french nuclear company called Cezus (a subsidiary of Areva). Cezus fabricates and processes zirconium into metal and nuclear grade zircoaloy for nuclear fuel assemblies – it also has other applications in aerospace such as components and ceramics for missiles and satellites. Mr Al-Hilli was also a skilled aerospace engineer, on what looks to be his first camping holiday.
What is the probability that two highly skilled engineers managed be at the same remote place, at the same time, yet still managed to end up dead as a result of what looks to be a military style assasination?
As someone else pointed out in The Independent comments, the deceased were found by a ‘retired’ RAF officer who, we assume, will recieve perpetual anonymity as a witness. If the police are looking for a motive, try an intercepted rendevous by a security service fixated on denying a hostile power illicit nuclear technology.
http://wrmea.org/component/content/article/162-1995-june/7823-israel-bombs-iraqs-osirak-nuclear-research-facility.html
The Huffington Post UK reports that this wasn’t the family’s first trip to the camp site. An earlier report had asked other camp site visitors whether they had seen the family before and they had replied they hadn’t. If this isn’t wasn’t the first visit by Al-Hilli, it might slightly increase the odds that he knew or had met Mollier before, this being the last in a series of rendevous of a transactional nature. Mollier lived and worked locally.
Again, I’m not sure of the truth of these reports, there is some very sloppy journalism, as there is always seems to be. I’ve read for example Mollier’s company Cevus descirbed as a steel firm something which it is patently not, but perhaps it may have been a detail lost in translation.
An interesting comment summing up some of the strange coincidences, at least, surrounding these murders. My other favourite comment calls me a “macchiavellian shill”.
I have only one thought of my own I want to add at the minute. Al-Hilli was a Shia muslim and had been on pilgrimage to Qoms in Iran. What if it is indeed true that he was in possession of no especial nuclear or defence secrets to pass on to the Iranians, but the Israelis thought that he was? The Israeli programme of assassination of scientists involved in Iran’s nuclear programme is a definite fact. It makes as much sense as anything else at the moment, as a possibility.
I am not saying that is what happened. But the directions in which the mainstream media is being so strenuously pointed by official sources, like the massacre of an entire family over an inheritance, are certainly no more inherently probable. Certainly as we are now told all the shots were from one gun, for the assassin to get each victim in the head with none of them being able to escape, indicates real proficiency with the weapon and a very high level of training.
Liam Maybank may be off course
Erm… hello? Operator, we appear to have been disconnected…
The *whole thing* is off course, these are the results of the 2 Alpes (open, public, anyone-can-enter) race, not an internal Ugine CC race…
Try and find a results list of a Ugine CC internal race?
Sorry if I’m not expressing myself well, I’m trying to rush in between working…
What I mean is, that the two names Strawberry came up with are from the results of “Les 2 Alpes” which is an open race. Not a Ugine Cycle Club race. So not particularly helpful (though I applaud the effort).
What we need are results from a Ugine CC internal race…
Sorry if I led us down the wrong track but had to mention the proximity to Claygate.
A lack of English names on what I could find, but why would he use one.
The Daily Mail has updated its coverage with some new info on ‘ex-RAF chap’. Seems they have now sussed his identity but are keeping quiet. They have revealed he is ‘in his 50s’.
The extent of Zainab’s injuries were revealed as it emerged that the former RAF officer who stumbled on the carnage while cycling in the Alps last Wednesday has returned to his home in England.
The terrified man, who is in his 50s, is expected to return to France in the coming days to take part in a reconstruction of his journey.
In order not to jeopardise his safety, the Mail has decided not to identify the man, a potential key witness who was believed to be at a safe address protected by British police last night.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202149/France-shooting-No-motives-suspects-investigation-TEN-YEARS.html#ixzz26LUq6oMs
No that was fine Strawberry!
Does this look like a doctored photo or what???
http://www.velo19.com/_contenu/resultats/insertion/ufo386a.jpg
Found from a google search on Perrier Christian
Ignore that last entry I think I’m going mad!!
Just stumbled upon an article in The Independent from two days ago (1):
Sources in the French investigation said that the pistol – once used for personal protection but now rare – was not the type of fire-arm carried by professional assassins or government hit-men.
Typical disinfo – actually it’s Mossad “Kidon” kill teams standard issue (2).
British experts said that although unusual, ammunition for 7.65mm weapons remained widely available in Europe and such pistols had the advantage of making less noise than more powerful 9mm guns.
An attempt to “explain” why none of the close witnesses heard shots? Or maybe even, why some unspecified witnesses were intially reported as hearing 30s of gunfire, while the close ones didn’t???
Actually, the advantage of the lower powered rounds is (as Anders informatively mentioned above) that they have less penetration, so in an airliner they’re unlikely to go through a suspect and into a passenger, or penetrate the hull.
French investigators added that the use of a single gun did not necessarily mean that the killer acted alone. Other evidence pointed to the presence of two assailants at the scene.
Interesting… if true… rules out the “lone nutters”…
1. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/french-alps-murders-sevenyearold-zainab-alhilli-tells-police-and-relatives-of-her-terror-at-the-shootings-8122200.html
2. http://www.tinyurl.com/mossad765
… and yes, no problem Strawberry – all efforts worthwhile – even if some seem to lead to dead ends (no puns intended!!) Keep digging.
BTW, I found this – a list of participants in the Ugine CC’s annual events from 1991 to 2011.
Disappointingly, there’s no “Mollier” on the list – and no English-sounding names either. Could it have been another cycle club they were members of?
http://cyclos-ugine.net/sorties/Calendrier.pdf
Good work Straw44berry.
Using your link to the cycling club results and the reported age of RAFman (I thought he was said to be in his 60s, but Mail says 50s – misdirection?) then it could be the guy who finished in 61st place in the 8 August race
http://www.courchevel.com/cyclocourch/images/upload/portfolio_img/r_sultats_cc_08_aout_2012.pdf
Does this look like a doctored photo or what???
I didn’t look – but this one definitely is
“A newly released picture of Saad Al-Hilli who was gunned down in the French Alps”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200388/Did-French-Alps-murder-victims-secret-work-space-satellite-contract-make-prime-assassination-target.html
Do you agree?
http://www.courchevel.com/cyclocourch/images/upload/portfolio_img/r_sultats_cc_08_aout_2012.pdf
The guy who came 61st in this race blogs a lot about MOD/RAF/MI6 matters on the Libertarian Alliance Blog.
ExRAF man is being interviewed on Sky News at 1PM BST
Prosecutor: Alps Shootings Have Origins In UK
http://t.co/LGlvCWjG
From Beezer
Christopher Houseman born 1959
http://company-director-check.co.uk/director/901643016
and
http://www.sportstimingsolutions.co.uk/sportive_results_master.php?recordID=The%20Big%20G%20160k%202012
“ExRAF man is being interviewed on Sky News at 1PM BST”
Well that saves us a job!
In fact just on the BBC website Brett Martin.
A quick search on Google gives us this Profile.
Brett Martin – United Kingdom | LinkedIn
uk.linkedin.com/pub/brett-martin/31/b63/537
Brighton, United Kingdom – Consultant B787 SFI, B777 SFI, B737 SFI, CRMI(G)
View Brett Martin’s (United Kingdom) professional profile on LinkedIn. … B757 Pilot at Air 2000; Air Defence Weaponeering Instructor (pilot) at Royal Air Force …
This profile no-longer exists on LinkedIn
this is getting very interesting now, sky stated RAF man’s name as
William Brett Martin.
Company director search = Silver Fern Ltd, based in sussex (matches sky report). Linkedin company info removed ??
One of the directors is I presume his wife as has same surname and still has active linked in profile, states business as aviation / aerospace …..
Yes I’m a newbie, No I’m not a spook, have been reading this thread for about the last 3 days and at last i found something to contribute (hence not posting before).
I wonder what he’ll have to say ?
Sidepoint, many links from last night / this morning (booman tribune for one) now = 404 errors , sites taken down.
Getting closer to the D notice then ??
Ferret, That photo is the 2nd one of Saad that I am calling the ‘tiffany lamp photo’ after the tiffany style lamp in the background. Poor quality photo, looks like it has been enlarged and cut to remove from a larger group of people.
Google’s cache of Brett Martin’s LinkedIn profile is still there:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:5q8tublwsCMJ:uk.linkedin.com/pub/brett-martin/31/b63/537+Brett+Martin+raf&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk
Brett Martin
Consultant B787 SFI, B777 SFI, B737 SFI, CRMI(G)
Brighton, United Kingdom Airlines/Aviation
Join LinkedIn and access Brett Martin’s full profile.
As a LinkedIn member, you’ll join 150 million other professionals who are sharing connections, ideas, and opportunities. And it’s free! You’ll also be able to:
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Brett Martin’s Overview
Current
Consultant B787 PSIP/SFI at Boeing UK Training and Flight Services
Consultant CRMI(G), CORE course tutor, B737NG SFI at CTC Aviation Group plc
Consultant CRMI(G), MCCI, B737 SFI at Alpha Aviation Group
see all
Past
Training Captain at British Airways
B757 Pilot at Air 2000
Air Defence Weaponeering Instructor (pilot) at Royal Air Force
Education
St. Kentigern’s College
Connections
199 connections
Brett Martin’s Experience
Consultant B787 PSIP/SFI
Boeing UK Training and Flight Services
Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BA; Aviation & Aerospace industry
June 2012 – Present (2 months) Crawley
B787 PSIP/SFI
Consultant CRMI(G), CORE course tutor, B737NG SFI
CTC Aviation Group plc
Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Aviation & Aerospace industry
August 2011 – Present (1 year) Southampton
Consultant CRMI(G), MCCI, B737 SFI
Alpha Aviation Group
August 2011 – Present (1 year) Gatwick, UK
CORE course, MCC course, CRM and B737 type rating instructor
Consultant B777 and B737 Synthetic Flying Instructor
British Airways Flight Training Limited
June 2009 – Present (3 years 2 months)
Human Factors and Leaership course design and training
Silver Fern (Sussex) Limited
Airlines/Aviation industry
January 2000 – Present (12 years 7 months)
Training Captain
British Airways
Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BAY; Airlines/Aviation industry
1990 – 2009 (19 years)
DC-10 pilot, 737 Training Captain, 777 Captain, 777 SFI, CRMI(G), founder member of Flight Operations Human Factors Standards Group.
B757 Pilot
Air 2000
1989 – 1990 (1 year)
B757 pilot
Air Defence Weaponeering Instructor (pilot)
Royal Air Force
Government Agency; 10,001+ employees; Military industry
1978 – 1989 (11 years)
Brett Martin’s Languages
French (Elementary proficiency)
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Aviation Teamwork Airlines Aircraft Flight Operations Aviation Industry Team Building Team Leadership
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St. Kentigern’s College
FRAeS, Aviation
1971 – 1978
Auckland , New Zealand
Brett Martin’s Additional Information
Groups and Associations:
Aviation Professionals (60,000+ Members)
Aviation Training
British Airways
Human Factors in Aviation
RAF Officers
Contact Brett for:
career opportunitiesconsulting offersnew venturesjob inquiriesexpertise requestsbusiness dealsreference requestsgetting back in touch
Strawberry, re Tiffany Lamp Photo, yes, grainy and low quality.
Don’t you just love the “stuck on” hairdo?!
Note the left-hand side of his face (left as we look at the photo) has a strange black line (marker pen?) which cuts off the very edge of his face. The chin-line doesn’t quite match up, which give it away.
An obvious shoop.
Wot no live interview!!!
Not newsworthy enough?
In case he breaks the D-Notice.
Shocking questions.
Gonna re-watch it now.
‘I agree that it seems an unnecessary detail that the witness was ex-RAF. But then thousands of people are ex-RAF, I don’t think it proves anything. Most of you have probably been on commercial planes piloted by ex-RAF people.’
Dennehy
11 Sep, 2012 – 2:21 pm
The voice of reason!
@straw44berry, sky have taken the video down after cutting the interview short. No video on BBC site ….
Ex-RAF man named as Brett Martin form Sussex.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19587311
Brett Martin interview to be screened on BBC News 24 in next few minutes…
Flip it around – yes there are Thousands of ex-RAF guys and that gives them time to find someone that fits the bill to play this character and then name him as the Ex RAF guy, no one knew his name or who he was!. Now suddenly he isnt scared anymore and his name is William Brett Martin……………..of course! did anyone when scouring the cycling websites see anyone of this name, do a search on him now………….nothing!
Its all too easy! they have had a week to brief someone to be the EX RAF guy!
Strangely dispassionate. Like he’s telling a story he heard from somebody else.