Three IRA explosions in Britain could have been prevented if MI5 had been more efficient, according to a former British agent currently being held in a Paris prison. Mr David Shayler faces extradition proceedings initiated by the British government, which wants him to stand charges of breaching the Official Secrets Act.
Mr Shayler made his claims in a report in yesterday's Daily Telegraph. He alleges that three attacks, including the 1993 Bishopsgate explosion in the City of London in which a man was killed, could have been avoided.
He had been negotiating with MI5 for a deal which would have allowed his return to the UK to appear before the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee. The discussions broke down and when it was suggested that Mr Shayler might release details of MI5 blunders on the Internet, an extradition warrant was issued.
Mr Shayler (32) was remanded in custody on Sunday following his arrest in Paris on Saturday night. The French public prosecutor in charge of the case confirmed that he had been brought before her after his detention by three plain clothes officers.
"Mr David Shayler has been remanded in custody ahead of extradition proceedings. He is the subject of a process under French law in which a request from the British authorities for extradition will be considered and then a decision made. In the meantime he will remain in custody," according to Mrs Isabelle Chauvin, deputy public prosecutor at the Parquet de Paris, the French public prosecutions office. She said there was no time limit on the investigation to be carried out by her department, but it was likely to take a "matter of months".
Mr Shayler will contest the proceedings, according to his UK lawyer, Mr John Wadham, probably on the grounds that his alleged crime was political because he had "disclosed information which we say was in the public interest". A French lawyer had been appointed to act for Mr Shayler and was due to meet the former MI5 agent yesterday.
"It is our intention to fight absolutely moves to bring my client back to Britain. The attempts to bring him back to Britain are the result of a mess which is of the British authorities' own making," according to Mr Wadham, who is a director of civil rights group Liberty.
A British MP, Mr David Wilshire, yesterday called for an immediate investigation into Mr Shayler's claims about IRA attacks.
"It's impossible to tell whether his claims are correct or not. But if a former MI5 officer makes allegations of this seriousness, then the parliamentary committee which deals with security (the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee) ought to be activated to investigate," Mr Wilshire said.
A UK High Court injunction prevents detailed publication of Mr Shayler's allegations in the UK.