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Raza Jaffrey
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Eamon Dean
November 2002 the Holiday Inn London Victoria Station In a beige meeting room with a scuffed blue carpet, Eamon Dean screws up his face in disgust as he sips the hotel coffee and reaches for another sachet of sugar. He's flown in from Bahrain for this meeting. Surely MI6's budget could stretch to some decent coffee. His new MI6 handler, Freddy, continues the debriefing. So they plan to hide the Muktaka devices in backpacks and plant them on the New York subway. And the nerve gas it releases is a blood agent, correct? Yes. Victims experience convulsions, then lung and heart failure five to 15 minutes after high dose exposure. It's a pretty horrible way Die. Freddy pushes his floppy blonde hair away from his eyes. And how many of these chemical bombs are they planning to use in the attack? I don't know exactly, but it will be multiple. Most likely they will detonate them on a train when it's going through a tunnel or near ventilation shafts in the stations. Jesus, couldn't you have played for time before confirming the design for the Muktaka was correct? Dean is irritated that Freddy is trying to second guess him. Akil is a chemistry teacher. I can't fool him with false information. Okay, I get it. Dean misses his former handler, Richard. But now the war on terror is underway. Richard's been promoted to higher things. Dean gloomily prods a tired looking sandwich on the buffet tray and wonders if the vague nausea he feels is hunger or tension. Freddy continues the questioning. Any ideas on timescales for the attack? No, they are still waiting on permission from Al Qaeda's leadership. But I do know there are four Saudi men in Morocco being taught how to make the bombs. All four have 10 year US visas. That should be useful. Dean's attention is snapped away from the inferior sandwiches. Wait. Are you going to tell the Americans? We can't keep them in the dark about a potential terrorist attack on their soil. Yes, but they're going to want to.
Freddy
Know where the information came from.
Eamon Dean
I don't trust the Americans. This is my life, Freddie. We're not going to identify you. We're only going to give them enough to persuade them that this threat is credible. Besides, if we're to stop this attack, we need their resources. Dean slumps into his conference chair. He knows Freddy's right, but in the pit of his stomach he feels a deep unease about the CIA knowing that he.
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Eamon Dean
From Wondery I'm Raza Jaffrey and this is the spy who in the last episode, British intelligence agent Eamon Dean returned to Afghanistan and learned of the creation of the Muqbtah, a chemical bomb designed to kill thousands. Then, after the 911 attacks led America and its allies to go to war in Afghanistan, Dean relocated to Bahrain to infiltrate Al Qaeda's networks there. Now he's out to stop a new Al Qaeda plot to use the Muqtaka to unleash terror on the New York City subway. You're listening to the spy who betrayed bin Laden. Episode 4 Death Sentence Late 2002 Washington, D.C. in the Oval Office, President George W. Bush sinks back into his chair as he absorbs the details of the New York subway terror plot. He looks at the man who brought him the news, CIA Director George Tenet. And this attack is imminent? We think so. The intelligence is still hazy on the timelines. Tenet watches the blood drain from the president's face. It's only been a year since 9 11. And how do we know all this? The British have someone on the inside. Can we trust their information? Tenet straightens. I believe it to be genuine, but we have no direct access to their source, so we cannot verify the information. Tenet dislikes knowing so little about Britain's source. The British are trusted partners, but America's under attack from all sides every day. He needs as much information as possible. The President sits back up. George, these men are flat evil. I want them hunted down and stopped. Yes, Mr. President. Tenet just hopes he has enough information to stop this Nightmare coming true. January 2003 Bahrain Eamon Dean sits on a low stool at a street food restaurant. Next to him is Akhil, the balding chemistry teacher who's helping plot the attacks on the New York subway. Dean looks at Akhil and feigns disappointment. The attack's been canceled. Akhil nods curtly. The Shura Council thinks it could be a gift to the Americans and help them justify the invasion of Iraq. Dean feels relief that the subway plot is off the cards. But he needs to hide his true feelings from Akil. So what do we do now? We've been ordered to keep all knowledge about the Muqtah under tight control. But if we can't use it against the Americans, we should share it with Hamas so they can use it against the Israelis. Dean frowns. You have no right to do that. The council said not to share it. Akhil stands angrily, knocking over some dishes in his haste.
Freddy
The Jews are killing our people in the West Bank.
Eamon Dean
They deserve it. As Ail storms off, Dean realizes that the cancellation of the plot doesn't mean the danger's past. February 2003 Bahrain A Bahraini passport inspector sits in his booth and watches the long line of cars from Saudi Arabia that are headed towards the checkpoint. On the small desk in front of him are photos of four young men, along with a description of their car and its registration number. His instructions are to order a random security check on their vehicle. He gets a call. Hello? Yes? Which car? The inspector squints at his CCTV monitor and sees the vehicle. He's been told to send for a security check. Yes, yes, I see it. Yep, I'll make it seem like a random check. The identified car reaches the front of his cube. The inspector adopts his usual bored tone. Passports. As he examines their documents, the passport inspector notices the man in the passenger seat is gripping a backpack particularly tightly. He's sure he would have been suspicious of them even without his instructions. His face remains impassive as he directs them to the security check line. He knows with satisfaction the look of panic on their faces. That evening in his flat in Bahrain, Eamon Dean receives a coded email from MI6. He copies the message onto the communications device his handlers gave him and decrypts it. It's a message alerting him to the arrests of four men involved in the New York subway plot at the border with Saudi Arabia. Dean quickly types out a reply. Thanks. Is Akil one of those arrested? Can they trace it back to me? The device encrypts this message and sends it back to MI6. A few minutes later, MI6 replies. Dean decodes it and reads the message. No, Eamonn Akil's not one of them. He will be arrested in a few weeks time as part of a general sweep of Al Qaeda sympathizers in Saudi. They think today's arrests are just bad luck. There's nothing to connect them with you. In other good news, Israeli security Services stopped them from uploading the Muptaka blueprints to Hamas. Dean smiles. The plots to deploy the Muptaka in both New York and Israel are history. One year later Bahrain, March 2004 in a meeting room attached to a mosque, Amandine stands before a large group of Al Qaeda members, ready to say a few words about his childhood friend, Khalid. Khalid died a few days ago, shot dead by Saudi security forces after months of conducting terror attacks across the kingdom. Dean addresses the room. Khalid was my friend. We shared so many things. A desire to make a difference, a love of poetry. He was at heart a romantic. Dean thinks back to him and Khalid as teenagers sitting in a McDonald's in Vienna, dreaming of dying as martyrs. Khalid pursued martyrdom like a lover chasing the object of his desire, and the elixir of Jihad only became more potent to him over the years. But for Dean, that elixir is now just poison. The poison that led Khalid to gleefully behead a Serbian prisoner in Bosnia and to consider the lives of ordinary Muslims expendable. Dean's eyes well with tears as he thinks of how Khalid's youthful idealism became so twisted. Dean finishes his eulogy and joins his brother Mohaddin, who's been listening with his nine year old son Ibrahim at his side. Mohaddin smiles at Dean. That was a beautiful speech, brother. I'm sure God will be pleased with Khalid's sacrifice. Ibrahim looks up at Dean, his eyes full of admiration for his uncle. I want to do jihad too. I want to be just like you and Khalid. Uncle Ayman, I will go to Afghanistan.
Freddy
And fight with the black banners.
Eamon Dean
Dean hides his dismay at his nephew's words. Oh, you will, will you? But how will you fight when you won't eat vegetables to make you strong? Dean tickles his nephew. No, stop. Please.
Freddy
Please, uncle.
Eamon Dean
Tell me more about Bosnia. No. Stories are for another day. Come, let us play hide and seek.
Freddy
Yes.
Eamon Dean
Moeddin places a hand on Ibrahim's shoulder. No, Ibrahim, you'll need to play on your own for a bit. There is someone who wants to meet your uncle. Okay. Modin nods towards a young man with a well groomed beard and thick eyebrows who's been watching them. The man approaches them. Brother, this is Yaser Kemal. Dean wistfully watches his nephew run outside. Just for once, he would have liked some uncomplicated family time. Kamal smiles at Dean. I wanted to meet you for some time. I've heard much of your great deeds in Afghanistan with Abu Khabab. Dean's ears prick up at the mention of Abu Khabab, the jihadi bomb maker he trained under in Afghanistan. May I visit you tomorrow? Dean nods. Kemal looks pleased, but Dean's pleased too. If Kamal's talking about Abu Kabab, he must be planning something. And Dean's determined to find out what. A few days later, on the outskirts of Bahrain's capital, Manama, Dean sits in the passenger seat of Kamal's van with the window open. It turns out Kemal's a fishmonger, uses this van for deliveries. But even with the air blasting in Dean's face, there's no escape from the overpowering smell. Gamal turns off the highway and parks on a deserted road next to the sea. Dean opens the door to get out. Kamal stops him. Leave your phone in the van. Dean stows his phone in the glove box, follows Kamal across the sand to the shoreline. Kamal stares out at the misty sea. Do you know how many Americans celebrate New Year's Eve in the cafes and nightclubs in Drafair and Exhibition Road? I know it's a lot. Don't all the Americans in the Gulf go there to get drunk? Yes, and it's time we head back. Look at what the crusaders are doing in Iraq. The massacres of Fallujah. We need to cleanse our lands of them. Kamal turns to Dean. I brought you here because I have been authorized to seek your help. Who authorized you? Kamal's face shows his sense of self importance. Sheikh Osama bin Laden and his advisors themselves. They are planning a big operation and we need your expertise on bomb making and chemicals. Are you with us? Dean doesn't hesitate. If he's to stop this plot, he needs to be at the center of it. Of course I'm with you. Kemal grins. Wait here. Kemal races back to the van and returns clutching a Quran. Swear on the Quran that you will manufacture the devices for our operation. Dean doesn't waver. He will make Kamal's bombs. Whether the bombs will work is a different matter altogether. June 2004. Bahrain Amon Dean leaves his apartment and strolls towards a nearby phone booth. It's been four months since Yasser Kamal asked him to help with a plot to blow up Americans celebrating New Year's Eve in Bahrain and he's just received an encrypted email from MI6 asking him to call immediately. Dean reaches the payphone and dials the number. Dean's MI6 case officer Freddie answers. Eamon thank goodness. Freddie. You sound surprised. I'm alive. Listen, you and your associates will be arrested by Bahraini Security Services early tomorrow morning.
Freddy
What?
Eamon Dean
Don't resist. Just make sure your apartment is clean. I don't understand. It's too soon for arrests. Why now? We don't know. Just get rid of everything. We'll figure out what to do next. Dean races back to his apartment. He grabs his computers, hard drives, USB sticks, CD ROMs and his MI6 encryption kit and starts smashing them to pieces before sweeping the debris into bin bags. Next, he heads downstairs to his brother Modin's apartment and begins searching for anything incriminating. Dean's nephew suddenly appears. Uncle Eamon. What? What are you doing? Dean thinks quickly. Ah, just the person I need. Your father told me to clear some things for him. Could you help an ice cream? If you take these bin bags. But you must put each bag in a different dumpster. Now? Yes, now. His nephew takes the bin bags and disappears outside. Dean spends the rest of the night watching the street from his apartment window and guzzling Coca Cola to stay awake. As the first rays of light appear, a convoy of SUVs pull into the courtyard below his apartment. Armed police leap out, dressed head to toe in Kevlar and carrying semi automatics. As they move towards his building, Dean finishes his Coca Cola, puts his hands behind his head and waits for them to arrive. It's a few hours later and Dean is in a Bahraini jail cell with plot ringleader Yasir Kamal. But Dean's still baffled by the arrests. The timing's all wrong. He's yet to find out where the chemicals for making the bombs are stored. Shutting down the operation now makes no sense. No sense at all. And all this thinking is giving him a really bad headache. Then he sees Kamal staring right at him. Are you okay? You look pale and you're sweating. Do you? Looks down and realizes his clothes are drenched with sweat. He suddenly feels very thirsty. The room spins. He falls to the floor as everything fades to black. He hears Kamal kicking the cell door.
Freddy
Doctor. We need a doctor.
Eamon Dean
Two weeks later, a bland hotel suite in West London. MI6 officer Freddie takes a step back as Dean lets rip.
Freddy
I was days away from meeting the plot's ringleader. I was about to find out where they were storing the chemicals.
Eamon Dean
Dean landed at Heathrow a few hours ago and the past two weeks have been rough. After collapsing in prison, he was diagnosed with diabetes. It then took two weeks of behind the scenes maneuvering until MI6 was able to get him out of Bahrain. Dean glares at Fred.
Freddy
Could you not have waited five more days? I was the one making the bombs. We had complete control.
Eamon Dean
Freddy knows the shock and stress of the last fortnight is now being vented in no uncertain terms.
Freddy
I'm sorry. We tried to get the Bahrainis to hold off, but US Vice President Dick Cheney picked up the phone to the King of Bahrain.
Eamon Dean
He demanded immediate arrests.
Freddy
Why did you tell the Americans? They always overreact.
Eamon Dean
There are rules about intelligence sharing.
Freddy
You can only pick and choose so much. Yes, they compromise the operation. Yes, we will make representations.
Eamon Dean
But if the White House phones the King, there's nothing we can do. It's way above our pay grade.
Freddy
Well, I hope no one minds that 55 kg of cyanide is sitting somewhere by the sea in Bahrain.
Eamon Dean
Freddie stays silent, hoping Dean's temper will burn out. Dean paces the room before sitting. Suddenly, he suddenly opens a bottle of Diet Coke. A concession to his diabetes diagnosis. So now what? I'm afraid you can't go back to Bahrain. You'll be arrested again. We'll set you up in London helping MI5 again. If that's okay with you. Freddy looks anxiously at Dean. He's usually remarkably cheerful and resilient. But for the first time, Freddie can see the toll the work's taking on him. June 2006. Two years later. Paris, France. On a pleasure boat cruising along the River Seine, Dean takes in the views and enjoys the feeling of the warmth, summer sun on his skin. It's his first holiday ever, a respite in his ongoing work to help MI5 monitor the activities of jihadis on British soil. He watches the majestic side of Notre Dame Cathedral drift into view. The other tourists on the boat move in, cameras at the ready. Dean tries to remember when he last felt this relaxed and calm. Dean feels his phone vibrate in his pocket and moves to check the text message. But in the bright sunshine, Dean cannot see it properly. He shields the screen from the sun with his hand and reads the words. Brother, go into hiding. There is a spy among us. Read Time website. Now Dean's calm evaporates. The text is from an Al Qaeda associate in Bahrain. He rereads the text. Is the message about him? It can't be. If his cover was blown, why would they warn him? But something must have changed. What do they know? His sense of foreboding now makes the slow pace of the boat torturous as he waits for it to dock. Finally, the boat docks. Dean rushes down the gang plank, pushing past the other passengers. Excuse me. Sorry. Dean runs through the streets. He has to get to an Internet cafe and find out what Time has published. But the first Cafe he finds is closed. Damn it. The next one he spots is full. Full. Finally, at a third cafe, he finds a spare computer. He types in the web address and the headline jumps out at him. Exclusive book Extract. How an Al Qaeda cell planned a poison gas attack on the New York subway. Dean scans the article. It details how terrorists came within 45 days of releasing poison gas on the New York subway. Someone somewhere has talked about the Mukhtakarbon plot. Dean reads on, then his heart nearly stops. The article reports that US agents were tipped off by an Al Qaeda operative called Ali. No. Dean stares at the screen in disbelief. Ali is his birth name and he's the only Ali in Al Qaeda with inside knowledge of the mukhtar and the subway plot. His cover has just been blown. A few days later. The Randolph Hotel, Oxford. In a chintzy Victorian styled hotel suite, Dean is huddled with his MI6 case officer, Freddie and other British intelligence officers examining a copy of Time magazine. They've spent most of the night trying to work out how Dean's identity got leaked to the magazine. Aside from the fact they think I work for the CIA, they've got it all. How?
Freddy
How?
Eamon Dean
Freddy checks an email he's just received and runs his hand through his thick, foppish blond hair. Our analysts now think it came from the White House, specifically the Vice President's office. Dean scowls. Are you kidding me? Dick Cheney again? Well, we don't know, but maybe somebody in his office. Let's see if I'm understanding this right. I'm one of the only people Western intelligence has inside Al Qaeda and I've.
Freddy
Just been outed so some White House flunky can feel important and help a journalist sell books?
Eamon Dean
There is an uncomfortable silence in the room. That's not quite how I would put it.
Freddy
Shall I put it another way, Freddie? MI6 likes to show the Americans it.
Eamon Dean
Punches above its weight.
Freddy
So you threw more information at them than you needed to.
Eamon Dean
Freddie looks away. Dean feels a pang of victory. But then he realizes it changes nothing. He can no longer be a spy. And there's nothing anyone here can do about it. Freddy breaks the silence. Let's focus on next steps. You need to let your contacts know you're leaving the uk and then cut off all communication with them. Then what? I'm 28, I've got no qualifications and I've been a Jihadi since I was 16. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that looks good on a cv. Well, you like books. Perhaps we could get you a job in a bookstore and make up the financial difference. Dean looks at Freddy in disbelief. Are you joking? After all I've done, I'm supposed to stack books and man a cash register? Oh, okay, not that. But we'll figure something out. Obviously. We'll provide a new place for you to live. You'll also need a new name. A few days later, he picks the name Ayman. Dean Ayman because it could be anything from Pakistani to Irish. Dean because his grandfather's name was Muhuddin. But a new name is the easy part. He must now build a new life. He can feel the cold withdrawal of MI5 and MI6 from an agent who. Who is no longer of use. He feels bereft and isolated in a country that is not his own. November 2008. Two years after Dean was exposed as a spy In a quiet cafe near Trafalgar Square, Dean sits with a senior MI6 officer called Rachel. For two years, he's lived in limbo, searching for a new purpose, and he's had very little contact with anyone in the intelligence services. Until the urgent request for this meeting arrived. Dean's not sure what to expect. He watches Rachel warily, noting her quiet air of authority and the expensive Hermes scarf. Tea, Amon? Yes, thank you. Dean wonders if the British do anything without a cup of tea beforehand. Rachel looks at Dean with sympathy. This isn't easy, I'm afraid. But the Americans have intercepted a message. A message to senior Al Qaeda members in the Gulf. At the moment, we believe that is the limit of its circulation. It is a fatwa against you. It says you have betrayed the cause, as it were, and that anyone who encounters you should kill you. Dean takes a deep breath. He expected something like this, but it still feels like a punch to the face. Rachel continues. We believe Yasser Kamal requested the fatwa. Figures. The message does suggest they still think you were in the Gulf somewhere, which is a small ray of good news. Obviously, we'll keep across this and keep you updated. Rachel sips her tea, watching Dean's reaction. Seeing no sign of panic or distress, she moves on to practicalities. You should exercise caution in your daily life. Change your routines, perhaps shave off your beard. Avoid the Northern Line entirely, especially Tooting and Finsbury park areas. And it goes without saying that going back to the Gulf for family events like birthdays or funerals is a very bad idea. After Rachel leaves, Dean stays put. Through the window, he sees a group of school children walk past. The children remind him of his nephews. He wonders if he will ever see them again. He envies the people outside with their normal lives. He must now always look over his shoulder. It's three days later and in High Street, Kensington Tube Station. Dean races up the stairs towards the exit. At the top, he glances back and sees that his pursuer also made it off the train. Dean bolts towards the ticket barriers and inserts his paper ticket into the slit on the gate. The barrier spits the ticket out. He tries again. The words seek assistance flash in red on the barrier's LCD screen. Dean hears the man chasing him, bounding up the stairs. No. No, no. Dean tries to ticket again. The barriers open. Relief floods through him as he races out of the tube station and onto the streets. His MI6 training kicks in. He dives into a nearby Boots pharmacy. He hides behind the furthest aisle and studies the people moving past the shop window. He sees no sign of his pursuer. Dean wonders if he is collecting reinforcements or a weapon. He pretends to take a long time to choose deodorant. After 10 minutes, he feels safe enough to leave the store. He moves cautiously, watching reflections in shop windows. Then he crosses a couple of side streets and slips into a branch of the Hotel Chocolat cafe chain. The woman at the counter looks in his direction. Good afternoon. What can I get for you? A Diet Coke, please. I'll bring it over. Dean sits in a corner near the back, watching the street through the windows and thinking he's a marked man. How long does he have left before someone gets him? Dean feels his adrenaline subside. But as it dies away, it's replaced by clarity. MI6 will warn against it, but if he is to die soon, then he needs to see his brother Mohiddin. He needs to tell him face to face why he betrayed the cause his brother still holds so dear. Dean feels he owes this to the man who stood in the place of his parents since he was One MONTH later Bahrain In a crowded fish restaurant, Dean waits for his brother Modin to arrive. He's sitting with his back to a wall and repeatedly checking the faces of everyone in the restaurant. He's already worked out how he will make a quick exit if his brother brings someone else with him. Fear is now such a constant part of his life, he no longer notices the tensing of his stomach. Moadin arrives with a delighted smile, excited at the unexpected appearance of his youngest brother. But once he sits, Dean struggles with how to begin his confession. He chose a crowded public place in the hope it would mute Mohadin's response. Now he worries about what will happen if Modin begins shouting at him. So how is my favorite nephew, Ibrahim? You'd be proud of him. He studies the Quran every day. He knows all the famous jihadists of history. He really reminds me of you. The thought of Ibrahim following the same path of jihad steals Dean's nerve. Mardin, there is something you need to know and you won't like it. For several years now, I've been an agent of the British government. I lost faith in Al Qaeda in the course. I couldn't stomach the civilian casualties or the butchery. Marin looks hurt. For a moment it seems as if he might cry. I didn't know yet. Somehow I suspected you had left. Moadin looks away. Was it. Was it because Al Qaeda didn't know how to use your abilities, your leadership potential? Dean shakes his head but can see his brother still searching for more reasons. He simply cannot understand why Dean would betray Al Qaeda. Remember that morning in 2004 when we were arrested? I knew they were coming, and I got rid of stuff that I feared could have incriminated you. I protected you. Imagine never seeing your boys again. Then they would grow up without a father, like we did. I don't know whether to say thank you or to tell you to go away, but now it makes sense. Dean feels a weight lifted from his shoulders. His brother's upset and confused. Dean knows they will perhaps never see eye to eye on religion, but given his brother's reaction, he's sure he would never betray him or cut off contact. Already he feels less isolated. Five years later September 2013 on the Edge of a small village in northern Syria, Dean stands on a hill. As the sun sets behind him. In the distance, he can hear the Syrian civil war raging, the dull thud of artillery, and the distinctive thrumming of helicopters. But right now this place is a patch of quiet. It's been five years since Dean told his brother he spied on Al Qaeda, and these days he works as a security consultant for governments and banks. But it's not work that's brought him to Syria. This is personal. Dean looks at the simple gravestones that surround him. The bodyguard who reluctantly brought him here stands near their car, checking his watch and their surroundings. He calls to Dean, the sun's going down. We don't want to be here after dark. Dean doesn't reply. Instead, he continues to check the hastily painted names on the simple headstones. Finally, he finds the one he is searching for the grave of his favorite nephew, Ibrahim, seduced by jihad, dead at 19. Moadin was right. Ibrahim was Just like him. Except he got his teenage death wish. Dean falls to his knees in the dust and says a small prayer. His nephew will never have the luxury of maturity. Instead, he lies silent like thousands of other young jihadists, each drawn by the belief that this is what God wants for them. But all Dean sees here is a futile waste of the life God gave them. The sound of helicopters grows nearer. The bodyguard calls to Dean again. Eamonn, seriously, we need to go now. It's okay, it's okay. I'm done. Dean stands and with a sigh, he turns and leaves. On the next episode, I'll be chatting with the man himself, Amon Dean, to hear about some of the surprising stories from his life that didn't make it into this series. Until being outed as a spy, Amon Dean was the West's most important spy inside Al Qaeda. The intelligence he gathered saved hundreds of lives. Today he is married with children and works as a security consultant for governments and organizations worldwide. He also tries to educate others about the politics and history of Islamic fundamentalism. As co host of the podcast Conflicted.
Raza Jaffrey
Wondery plus subscribers can binge full seasons of the Spy who early and ad free on Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app.
Eamon Dean
Have you got a spy story you'd like us to tell? Email your ideas to the spy whoanderey.com from Wondery this is the fourth episode in our series, the Spy who Betrayed Bin Laden. A quick note about our dialogue we can't know everything that was said or done behind closed doors, particularly far back in history, but our scenes are written using the best available sources, so even if a scene or conversation has been recreated for dramatic effect, it's still based on on biographical research. We've used various sources to make this series, including Nine Lives, my time as MI6's top spy in Al Qaeda by Eamon Dean throughout his life, Dean has used other names, including his birth name and the name he used while a member of Al Qaeda. Ayman Dean is the name he adopted after finishing his spy career, and we've used it throughout the series for clarity. The Spy who is hosted by me, Raza Jaffrey. Our show is produced by Vespucci with writing and story editing by Yellowant for Wondery for Yellow Ant. This episode was written by Judy Cooper and researched by Marina Watson and Louise Byrne. Our managing producer is Jay Priest for Vespucci, our senior producer is Natalia Rodriguez and our sound designer is Iver Manley. Thomas Curry is the supervising producer. Music supervisor is Scott Velasquez for Frisian Sync. Executive producers for Vespucci are Johnny Galvin and Daniel Turkan. Executive producer for Yellow Ant is Tristan Donovan. Our managing producer for Wondery is Rachel Sibley. Executive producers for Wondery are Estelle Doyle, Jessica Radburn and Marshall Louie.
Podcast Information:
The Spy Who Betrayed Bin Laden is a gripping narrative that follows Eamon Dean, a British intelligence agent infiltrating Al Qaeda. This fourth episode, titled "Death Sentence," delves deeper into Dean's perilous mission, the complexities of international intelligence cooperation, and the profound personal toll of living a double life.
The episode opens in November 2002 at the Holiday Inn London Victoria Station, where Eamon Dean, under MI6 direction, is strategizing with his handler, Freddy, about thwarting a devastating terrorist attack on the New York City subway system.
Chemistry of the Bombs: The chemical bombs, known as Muktaka, release a blood agent causing convulsions, followed by rapid lung and heart failure within minutes. Dean expresses his disgust over the gruesome nature of the weapon:
Operational Plans: Freddy outlines the plan to plant multiple devices in backpacks on the subway, aiming for maximum casualties by detonating them in confined spaces like tunnels or near ventilation shafts.
Dean's Reluctance and Moral Conflict: Dean grapples with the ethics of involving the Americans, expressing distrust and fear about his identity being exposed:
Relocation to Bahrain: Post-9/11, Dean relocates to Bahrain to penetrate Al Qaeda's networks. His mission is critical in preventing further attacks, including the planned subway bombing.
CIA and MI6 Dynamics: Tensions rise between MI6 and the CIA over handling the intelligence about the plot. Freddy emphasizes the importance of sharing credible threats with the Americans to leverage their resources:
Arrests and Setbacks: In February 2003, Bahraini authorities arrest four Saudi men involved in the subway plot, thwarting the attack but raising suspicions about Dean's connection:
Despite MI6’s efforts to protect him, Dean faces the grim reality of being exposed as a potential target, especially after his nephew Ibrahim expresses a desire to join jihad:
Failed Arrests and MI6 Intervention: In June 2004, Dean is unexpectedly arrested along with Yasir Kamal due to increased pressure from American authorities, particularly Vice President Dick Cheney, leading to a compromise of MI6 operations:
Health Crisis and Release: While in prison, Dean collapses and is diagnosed with diabetes. MI6 negotiates his release, but his career as a spy is effectively over. Freddy bluntly informs him of his new status:
Attempted Normalcy: In June 2006, Dean takes a rare vacation to Paris, seeking solace from his tumultuous spy life. However, his past catches up when Time magazine publishes an expose linking him to the Muqtaara plot, effectively outing him:
Forced Relocation and New Identity: MI6 advises Dean to assume a new identity—Ayman Dean—to evade further threats. Struggling with his new reality, he feels isolated and betrayed by the very organization he served:
Confronting Family: In November 2008, Dean confronts his brother Mohaddin in Bahrain, revealing his true identity and espionage activities. This confession leads to a strained yet pivotal moment of understanding:
Tragic Loss: Fast forward to September 2013, Dean visits the grave of his nephew Ibrahim in Syria, mourning the loss of a life consumed by jihad:
Personal Reflection: The episode culminates with Dean grappling with the consequences of his double life—his sacrifices, losses, and the perpetual fear of being hunted. His journey underscores the profound personal costs endured by those in the shadows of intelligence work.
Upcoming Insights: The episode closes with a teaser for the next installment, featuring an interview with Amon Dean himself, promising deeper insights into his life and untold stories.
Moral Ambiguity in Intelligence Work: The episode highlights Dean's internal struggle between duty and personal ethics, especially when dealing with horrifying plots like the Muqtaara chemical bombs.
International Intelligence Dynamics: The friction between MI6 and the CIA showcases the complexities of international collaboration and the delicate balance between sharing crucial intelligence and safeguarding operatives.
Personal Sacrifice and Isolation: Dean's journey underscores the emotional and psychological toll of espionage, including the loss of personal relationships and the relentless fear of exposure.
Consequences of Betrayal: The fallout from Dean being outed as a spy illustrates the precarious nature of intelligence work, where a single leak can unravel years of painstaking effort and endanger lives.
Tragic Impact of Extremism: Through the tragic loss of his nephew, Ibrahim, the narrative emphasizes the devastating effects of radicalization and the personal losses that accompany terrorism.
Search for Redemption and Purpose: Post-exposure, Dean's attempts to rebuild his life reflect the profound challenges faced by former operatives in finding new purpose after abandoning their covert missions.
The Spy Who Betrayed Bin Laden (Encore) | Death Sentence | Episode 4 offers a riveting exploration of Eamon Dean's perilous mission within Al Qaeda, the intricate dance between international intelligence agencies, and the profound personal costs of living a double life. Through intense storytelling and emotional depth, the episode paints a vivid picture of the shadowy world of espionage and the human struggles that lie beneath.
If you have a spy story you'd like us to explore, feel free to email your ideas to the.spy.who@wondery.com.
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