The History Podcast – "The Arrest: 5. The Arrest" (Dec 5, 2025)
BBC Radio 4 Host: Philippe Sands

Overview of Episode Theme

In this pivotal episode, Philippe Sands unpacks the dramatic final hours of the effort to apprehend Augusto Pinochet, Chile's infamous former dictator, in London. Combining vivid personal accounts, legal intrigue, and the worldwide ramifications that followed, the episode tells the inside story of a historic arrest that redefined international justice and accountability for former political leaders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Night of the Arrest

• Setting the Scene (01:11–02:01)

  • Near midnight on October 16, 1998, two police officers, aided by interpreter Jean Pateris, prepare to arrest Pinochet, recovering from surgery at a London clinic.
  • Jean Pateris recounts her initial reluctance to take the assignment, thinking she was "absolutely exhausted" (02:25), only to be astonished when told, "We're going to go and arrest General Pinochet" (02:49).
    • Memorable quote: “Oh my God, it’s like a Woody Allen movie…what do we do on a Friday night? We’re going to arrest a dictator.” — Jean Pateris (02:52)

• Confronting the Bodyguards (03:38–04:15)

  • On arrival, Pinochet's loyal bodyguards refuse to leave his door, dramatically declaring, “I will not leave my General” (03:46), causing tension and brief alarm when one reaches for a phone, mistaken for a gun.

• The Arrest in the Hospital Room (04:26–05:08)

  • Pinochet is shocked, sitting in striped pajamas as the charges are translated. He brands the arrest a communist conspiracy, blaming “that communist Garces.”
    • Notable quote: “He was absolutely livid. He said, ‘I know who’s behind this. It’s that communist Garces.’” — Jean Pateris (05:04)

2. Reactions and Aftermath

• Jean’s Personal Account (05:29–06:39)

  • The next day, Jean shares the news with her family, sparking generational divides: her Chilean-born mother defends Pinochet, recalling “at least when he was there, you knew what the price of a loaf of bread was going to be,” reflecting nostalgia for stability despite the dictatorship (06:07–06:39).

• Global Response (06:39–07:36)

  • The arrest provokes outrage and celebration:
    • Violent protests erupt in Chile; government objects citing Pinochet’s status as a senator for life.
    • His opponents, including Chileans in Britain, celebrate, insisting on justice and extradition.

3. Key Figures Reflect

• Laura Gonzalez Vera (07:36–07:56)

  • Widow of Carmelo Soria, UN diplomat murdered under Pinochet, expresses happiness at the news.

• Baltazar Garzon & Juan Garces (07:56–08:51)

  • Baltazar Garzon, the Spanish judge behind the warrant, rushes back to Madrid; lawyer Juan Garces finds out through local press before even hearing directly from Garzon.
    • Quote: “I saw in the front page on the Santiago papers that Pinochet had been arrested in London…about half an hour later, I received a call from Judge Garzon telling me, ‘Listen, I have news.’” — Juan Garces (08:22–08:43)

• Carlos Castrosana (08:51–09:11)

  • Spanish prosecutor Castrosana is incredulous when he hears the news.
    • Quote: “And my response was, who has been arrested? And he said, Pinochet has been arrested… I could not believe it.” (08:56–09:11)

4. The Legal and Historical Precedent

• Unprecedented Moment (09:19–10:26)

  • Pinochet’s arrest becomes historic: for the first time, a former head of state is detained in a country not his own, facing international criminal charges. The episode compares this milestone to Nuremberg, signaling that immunity for ex-rulers can no longer shield them from justice.

• Challenges in the Legal Proceedings (10:26–11:18)

  • The arrest raises complex legal questions, such as why Spain initiated the prosecution and whether Pinochet’s immunity would hold in English or international courts.

• Spanish & Chilean Connection (11:18–12:52)

  • Prosecutor Castrosana admits, “for us, Pinochet was like the exorcism of Franco,” highlighting Spain’s unresolved historical injustices.
  • Sands reveals a personal connection: only years later, he learns from his Spanish mother-in-law that he’s distantly related by marriage to Carmelo Soria, tying his involvement in the case to family history.

5. Philippe Sands’ Role

• Personal Ethical Dilemma (13:04–14:13)

  • Sands is approached to represent Pinochet’s claim to immunity under the “cab rank principle” — the barrister’s ethical rule — but his wife objects, telling him: “If you do it, I will divorce you.”
    • Quote: “Fine, she said in a tone that was both irritated and sweet. But if you do it, I will divorce you.” — Philippe Sands (14:07–14:13)

• Lasting Change (14:13–14:44)

  • Regardless of legal complexities, the precedent is set: former leaders can face arrest abroad for international crimes.

• Epilogue (14:44–15:03)

  • Sands hints at his involvement in the case’s fallout, confirming, “I did play a role…and yes, I’m still very happily married.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It’s like a Woody Allen movie…what do we do on a Friday night? We’re going to arrest a dictator.” — Jean Pateris (02:52)
• “I will not leave my General.” — Pinochet's bodyguards (03:46)
• “He was absolutely livid. He said, ‘I know who’s behind this. It’s that communist Garces.’” — Jean Pateris translating Pinochet (05:04)
• “How outrageous. What a poor man. Honestly, the man was absolutely the best thing that Chile ever had.” — Jean’s mother (06:07)
• “Pinochet’s arrest was the first time that the former head of state of one country, in this case Chile, had been charged with international crimes and arrested in another country.” — Philippe Sands (09:19)
• “We did to Pinochet what we should have done to Franco.” — Carlos Castrosana (11:18)
• “But if you do it, I will divorce you.” — Sands’ wife (14:12)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [01:11] – The plan to arrest Pinochet at the London Clinic
• [02:25] – Jean Pateris learns the target is Pinochet
• [03:38] – Standoff with Pinochet’s bodyguards
• [04:26] – The confrontation and arrest of Pinochet
• [05:29] – Jean Pateris reflects on family reactions
• [06:39] – International response and protests
• [07:36] – Reactions from victims’ families and Spanish officials
• [08:51] – Spanish prosecutor hears of the arrest
• [09:19] – Significance of the arrest for international law
• [11:18] – Spain’s historical motivation
• [12:52] – Sands' personal connection to Soria
• [13:04] – Sands’ ethical dilemma and family discussion
• [14:13] – The global precedent set by the arrest

Conclusion

This episode brings listeners to the heart of a legal and moral turning point in world history. Through first-hand narration, intimate family reflections, and detailed international context, it unpacks not just a sensational arrest, but the birth of a new era in global justice — one where no leader is totally beyond accountability. Philippe Sands’ narrative, at once legal, personal, and historical, provides a gripping insider view of how the world of human rights enforcement changed forever.