OleJanx

^^Coincidence?

Boomhauer

Nah, it happens all the time, that nuclear engineers die in random drive-bys.

---

Ok back on topic, I really don't know. Agnostic on whether either was offed by a government. If it was a government hit, I would say these are the likely candidates , in no particular order: Russia, Israel, Pakistan, Iran. Israel and Russia are most capable / have the skill. Though the nature of the killing (family dead) may rule out Israel and Russia, it might just as well be a botched assasination .

the_red_sheep

While much of the assassination seems professional, they potentially had to kill one witness, the cyclist, if we believe she wasn't a target, and also (thankfully) left two living witnesses, the children, seemingly without ever even realising one of them was there. That seems to me too make it look a slightly less professional job.

While we're throwing the axis of evil countries into the pot as candidates, North Korea anyone?

alfrombarking

In my opinion they should have finished the job...those kids are now lose ends.

alfrombarking

This RAF geezer needs to be looked at more closely. Why was he out there in the first place in such a remote part of france. Whats wrong with lake district or the brecon beacons?

Was he out with his family and went off on his own to have some my time. I wouldnt rule him out for the killings either.

flares

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19540445

Bomb squad now at victim's house. Found an IED (maybe)

alfrombarking

well...did you see a brick layer neighbour who owns a 1m property?

Looks like the SIS and 'the competition' are managing the entire thing and very soon this will be shifted to the mullahs...it will sound good to the masses

The Dean

So is this going to become one of those conspiracy theories that actually turns out to be true? How exciting.............

flares

I know of a few very welthy bricklayers in the stockbroker belt. Loadsamoney charachter had to be based on someone

alfrombarking

So, now the wife (and i presume her mother) turn out to be Iranian according to this article - this is the first I have heard of this:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226471709164



I notice that same article is the first to mentions the CZ made weapon

btw

The Dean

Back home recently, the 'cheapest' plumber I could find charged 60 pounds an hour..... I can't even begin to imagine what brickies charge.

alfrombarking

It seems to me likely that al Hilli was due to meet the French cyclist – for whatever reason. That both of them were under suspicion of cooperation with Iran. Probably suspected by the Israelis. And that they were both shot for this reason. Al Hilli’s wife and mother in law could have been shot as a warning to others. Or just because they were there.

It’s perfectly possible that the ex-RAF guy is legit, lives in the area, and was out for a cycle. There is no reason to think the older girl was “tortured”. She probably left the car before the shooting took place, and on coming back, was shot at and hit on the head. When the mother had seen gunmen approaching, she had pushed the 4-year-old girl down and told her to hide. There is no reason to think the little girl used the words “good guys and bad guys” – that was indirect speech, words used by Maillaud.



If al Hilli had been leaving the previous camp site on his own several times a day, perhaps the killers were surprised to find him there with a car full of people. They killed the two women, but didn’t expect the children. Weren’t prepared for them. So they dealt with the older girl as quickly as possible and missed the younger one completely. They had limited time and had to get away.

Questions remaining:

Why did the ex-RAF guy not hear the shooting? Or did he? Do we have any idea where the 4×4 and the motorbike are supposed to have been when seen by him? Did they pass him on their way down when he was still on his way up?

OleJanx

Next they'll be looking for a white Fiat Uno...

Cypselos

Surely they're all rust coloured by now.

Kix

Whooosh!