In a shocking exposé that reads like a John le Carré thriller, historian Simon Ball's new book 'Death Order: The Secrets of a British Assassin' pulls back the curtain on one of Whitehall's most closely guarded secrets - Britain's official programme of state-sanctioned assassinations during the Cold War.
The License to Kill
Drawing on previously classified documents and explosive first-hand accounts, Ball reveals how British intelligence services maintained a secret cadre of trained assassins ready to eliminate enemies of the state. These weren't rogue agents, but highly-trained operatives working under direct orders from the highest levels of government.
The Perfect Weapon
The book focuses particularly on the shadowy figure of Major James 'Jimbo' Ellis, an SAS officer turned MI6 asset who became Britain's most prolific Cold War assassin. Ball paints a chilling portrait of this 'perfect gentleman killer' who moved effortlessly between London's elite clubs and the world's deadliest conflict zones.
Methods of the Masters
Among the revelations:
- The development of specialised assassination techniques that could mimic natural causes
- How Britain's killers were trained to blend into high society
- The secret Whitehall committee that approved 'death orders'
- Shocking case studies of actual operations across Europe and the Middle East
Cold War Killings
Ball's research suggests these operations weren't limited to wartime scenarios. The book details how British assassins allegedly eliminated:
- Suspected double agents
- Arms dealers supplying enemies
- Revolutionaries threatening British interests
- Even politicians deemed 'security risks'
The most controversial claim involves the alleged assassination of a senior European politician in the 1970s, an operation Ball suggests may have been approved at ministerial level.
Legacy of the Programme
While officially discontinued after the Cold War, Ball presents compelling evidence that elements of this assassination capability were maintained into the 21st century. The book raises disturbing questions about how far democratic governments should go in defending national security, and whether such programmes could be revived in today's volatile geopolitical climate.
With its explosive revelations and meticulous research, 'Death Order' promises to reignite debates about the morality of state-sponsored killing and the true price of national security.
