Definitely an illness. Definitely not an assassination attempt. "...found 
slumped unconscious with blood everywhere", so its pneumonia then. Is that 
really the best cover story that HMG can come up with? My word, what on 
earth do they get up to all day long on the South Bank.

That's all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPY CHIEF ALEX ALLAN FOUND WITH 'BLOOD EVERYWHERE'

By Rupert Neate
Last Updated: 11:53AM BST 06/07/2008


Britain's leading spymaster, who is in a coma after apparently being struck 
down by a mystery illness, was found covered in blood, according to a 
tenant.

Alex Allan has been described as "very, very seriously ill" and is under 
police guard in the intensive care unit of a west London hospital.

He was found by Dominique Salm, a painter who rents an artist's studio in 
his west London home.

According to neighbours she found him slumped unconscious with "blood 
everywhere".

Doctors have run a battery of test to try and establish why the 57-year-old 
Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee collapsed at his home on 
Monday.

Government sources insist there is no evidence of suspicious circumstances, 
but Miss Salm's account will add to speculation that Mr Allan may have been 
targeted by a foreign spy.

The painter's mother Sally Ann Salm told the Mail on Sunday: "Some very 
serious people have asked Dominique not to comment on any of this until it 
has been fully investigated and she is doing just that. So am I."

The Counter Terrorism Command has investigated but is so far treating the 
illness as non-suspicious.

A police source said: "Because he is a person of significance, investigators 
made sure nothing untoward had occurred. But it was quickly established 
there was a medical reason for how he was found."

Whitehall sources are blaming the collapse on pneumonia, and experts agree 
that prolonged coughing can bring up blood.

Dr Keith Prowse, chairman of the British Lung Foundation, said: "If it's 
pneumonia it is likely to be secondary to something else. And a significant 
quantity of blood is more likely to come from the gut than the chest.

"Pneumonia is something that can strike very quickly, however."

Mr Allan has been described as "ebullient and out-going" and once windsurfed 
down the Thames in a suit and bowler hat to avoid a transport strike.

He was private secretary to both John Major and Tony Blair and was 
previously permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice and High 
Commissioner for Australia.

He was appointed to be chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) by 
Gordon Brown a year ago and took up his job in the autumn.

It is Mr Allan's job to assess the intelligence put forward by MI5, MI6, 
GCHQ, military intelligence and foreign intelligence sources.

He reports to the permanent secretary for intelligence, security and 
resilience who in turn reports to the Prime Minister.

Government sources suggest Mr Allan was "too high profile" to be a target 
for foreign intelligence agencies but others have suggested this is exactly 
what could make him vulnerable.

Miss Salm has been using a studio at Mr Allan's home since the death of his 
artist wife, Katie Clemson, in November last year.

Mr Allan was appointed as head of the Government's spy network in November 
last year

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2257061/Spy-chief-Alex-Allan-found-with-'blood-everywhere'.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Bill Again"  wrote ...

> Definitely an illness. Definitely not an assassination attempt. "...found
> slumped unconscious with blood everywhere", so its pneumonia then. Is that
> really the best cover story that HMG can come up with? My word, what on
> earth do they get up to all day long on the South Bank.
>
> That's all.

It wasn't from pneumonia, somewhat more fatal, but I do have personal
experience of someone found in such a situation. Medical condition, no
suspicious circumstances.

It is intriguing though that everything's being so played-down, all those
who have any information on the incident are being told to keep it shut.

"The Happy Hippy"  wrote in message 
news:p1cck.22088$E41.7967@text.news.virginmedia.com...
> "Bill Again"  wrote ...
>
>> Definitely an illness. Definitely not an assassination attempt. "...found
>> slumped unconscious with blood everywhere", so its pneumonia then. Is 
>> that
>> really the best cover story that HMG can come up with? My word, what on
>> earth do they get up to all day long on the South Bank.
>>
>> That's all.
>
> It wasn't from pneumonia, somewhat more fatal, but I do have personal
> experience of someone found in such a situation. Medical condition, no
> suspicious circumstances.
>
> It is intriguing though that everything's being so played-down, all those
> who have any information on the incident are being told to keep it shut.
>

Perhaps his family wants him to be left alone.

George