A press report published by “Middle East Eye,” based on an investigative inquiry conducted by the “ITV News” network, revealed the involvement of international mercenaries funded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in carrying out covert surveillance operations targeting a British activist and academic on British territory.
The investigation sheds light on the use by foreign intelligence agencies of private security companies and mercenaries to track opponents or activists inside Western capitals, raising broad legal and security questions.
Details of the Covert Operation
The investigation explained that the mastermind behind this operation was Abraham Golan, a Hungarian-Israeli dual national, who runs a private security company known as the “Spear Operations Group.”
According to “ITV News,” Golan personally traveled to the British capital, London, in December 2016, with the aim of leading a covert surveillance operation and directly targeting Mr. Anas al-Tikriti, a prominent British activist who serves as the chief executive of the Cordoba Foundation, a research center based in London.
Financial Records and Millions of Dollars in Funding
The investigative inquiry was based on leaked Emirati documents and financial records that the “ITV News” network was able to access. These records conclusively showed that Abraham Golan, who was residing in the United States of America, received substantial financial transfers and millions of dollars from Emirati entities in exchange for carrying out these intelligence tasks.
Key Findings from the Financial Records:
Direct funding: The “Spear Operations Group” received millions of dollars under undisclosed contracts to carry out tasks outside the scope of international law.
Foreign directives: The intelligence operations carried out by Golan in London were linked to the political agenda of the United Arab Emirates, targeting figures and institutions it considers opposed to its policies.
Who Was Targeted?
Anas al-Tikriti, who was the main target of this operation, is a well-known figure in British academic and political circles. Through his management of the “Cordoba Foundation,” al-Tikriti focused on Middle Eastern issues and human rights, which apparently made him a target of tracking and intimidation campaigns funded by states opposed to the institution’s orientations.
Security and Political Implications
This investigation once again opens the door to debate over the unlawful activities carried out by private mercenary companies on European and British territory. Surveillance and espionage operations directed and funded by foreign states against British citizens or residents constitute a flagrant violation of sovereignty and local laws, which may prompt legislative and security authorities in the United Kingdom to tighten oversight of such activities and launch official investigations into the reported breaches.
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