investigation

A year after the investigation began, Scotland Yard detectives has been asked by the Crown Prosecution Service to extend their inquiries into the alleged plot by MI6 to kill Colonel Gadaffi. This move will discredit claims by Robin Cook, the foreign secretary, that the security service's involvement was "pure fantasy".

Crown Prosecutors who have read a preliminary police report, have decided there is a prima facie case which merits further investigation. "It is not fantasy," said a police source.

Both of the MI6 officers, codenamed PT16 and PT16B, which were said by Shayler to have been involved in the plot, have been interviewed by detectives.
The investigation is being lead by Superintendent Lewis Benjamin, a former Special Branch officer, under the supervision of David Veness, Scotland Yard's assistant commissioner in charge of specialist operations.

The attempt on Colonel Gadaffi life which involved an armed assault on his entourage, claimed the lives of several of Libyan leaders bodyguards and would-be assassins according to Arab newspapers.

The investigation was recommended and doubts over the Foreign secretaries statement arose when a secret MI6 document, headed "UK Eyes Alpha", was leaked onto the internet.
The document entitled: "Libya: plans to overthrow Gadaffi in early 1996 are well advanced", contains details of contacts between MI6 and a group of Middle Eastern plotters, further more the document goes on the say that in November 1995 links were established between a plotter and "HMG" (Her Majesty's Government).