Snowden faces MI6 assassination threat: NSA ex-officer

Tue Jan 28, 2014 4:52PM

Famous American whistleblower Edward Snowden faces assassination attempts by the British foreign intelligence service, MI6, a former security officer tells Press TV.

Wayne Madsen, a former National Security Agency (NSA) officer, said the threat has increased after the failed attempts to kidnap Snowden, who gained fame due to his revelations about NSA spying activities.

“In early December 2013, I reported on Russia’s Channel One news network that Snowden was the target of a possible kidnapping attempt back then by the MI6 officers - British intelligence officers with the British Embassy in Moscow,” he said.

But, he added, the US officials failed to kidnap Snowden with the help of the MI6 “and bring him back to the United States either directly or through the United Kingdom.”

“And now they’ve gone to the other scenario where they’d like to just put him out, make him go away by assassinating him,” said Madsen.

He added that Russia, where Snowden has been granted asylum, is now “the safest country” for the whistleblower.

Madsen said the Russian government can provide enough security for Snowden.

Fearing for his life, Snowden fled the US -- before disclosing the information on the National Security Agency’s spying operations -- first to Hong Kong and then to Russia where he was granted temporary asylum last summer.

Snowden’s revelations have caused uproar in the US regarding privacy rights. They have also angered many US allies whose leaders were targeted by the NSA.

KA/HMV/SS

 http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/01/28/348173/snowden-faces-mi6-assassination-threat/