A former British Army office who founded the organisation that trained the White Helmets rescue group in Syria has been found dead in Istanbul.
The body of James Le Mesurier, who set up the Mayday Rescue emergency response group, was discovered yesterday near his home in the Turkish capital.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His wife told the authorities that she and her husband went to bed at about 4am after taking sleeping pills. Later, she was woken by knocking on the door, as her husband lay in the street surrounded by police.
Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford said Le Mesurier’s wife had been “telling friends that he had just begun taking anti-depressants”.
Crawford added: “She says she was not disturbed by any intruder and appeared to be at pains to try to quash rumours that somehow he’d been killed.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The cause of Le Mesurier’s death is unknown but CNN reports that it comes after he was accused of being a spy by the Russian foreign ministry.
Last week, the Russian foreign ministry tweeted: “The White Helmets' co-founder, James Le Mesurier, is a former agent of Britain's MI6, who has been spotted all around the world, including in the Balkans and the Middle East.
“His connections to terrorist groups were reported back during his mission in Kosovo.”
The Mayday Rescue Foundation described him as a “great leader” and a “visionary” as it confirmed his death.
In 2016, the White Helmets received the Right Livelihood Award in recognition for “outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians”. In the same year the group was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and Le Mesurier received an OBE.
However, the BBC points out that the White Helmets is “seen as a terrorist group by Syria's government”.
-
Why the Bangladesh election is one to watchThe Explainer Opposition party has claimed the void left by Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League but Islamist party could yet have a say
-
The world’s most romantic hotelsThe Week Recommends Treetop hideaways, secluded villas and a woodland cabin – perfect settings for Valentine’s Day
-
Democrats push for ICE accountabilityFeature U.S. citizens shot and violently detained by immigration agents testify at Capitol Hill hearing
-
Epstein files topple law CEO, roil UK governmentSpeed Read Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the US, is caught up in the scandal
-
Iran and US prepare to meet after skirmishesSpeed Read The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East
-
Syria’s Kurds: abandoned by their US allyTalking Point Ahmed al-Sharaa’s lightning offensive against Syrian Kurdistan belies his promise to respect the country’s ethnic minorities
-
Israel retrieves final hostage’s body from GazaSpeed Read The 24-year-old police officer was killed during the initial Hamas attack
-
China’s Xi targets top general in growing purgeSpeed Read Zhang Youxia is being investigated over ‘grave violations’ of the law
-
Syria’s Islamic State problemIn The Spotlight Fragile security in prison camps leads to escape of IS fighters
-
Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
