Former British officer killed in Istanbul hailed as ‘a true hero’

Britain’s top diplomat at the United Nations yesterday condemned Russian allegations that James Le Mesurier, the former British Army officer found dead in Istanbul, was a spy, hailing him as a humanitarian.

Ambassador Karen Pierce said Le Mesurier, who started Mayday Rescue, which helped found the White Helmets organisation in Syria, was “a true hero” whose efforts had helped civilians in the Middle East.

“I really want to stress that civilian bit in the light of some of the accusations that Russia and others have made,” Ms Pierce said in New York of the former officer’s role in helping the White Helmets.

“They have saved countless people from the ravages of [Bashar Al] Assad’s forces and paramilitaries. He really deserves our respect. We’ve lost a real humanitarian.”

The British ambassador said she would be following very closely the Turkish investigation into Le Mesurier’s death.

He was found dead at his apartment building in Istanbul, reportedly with fractures to his skull and legs.

“I’m sure we’ll want to give them any assistance they might require,” Ms Pierce said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry only days ago alleged in a tweet that he was an agent of MI6, Britain’s foreign intelligence service.

Ambassador Pierce spoke of Le Mesurier’s military service and training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, but said he had died as a civilian.

“I want to take the opportunity to say on the record that the Russian charges against him, that came out of the foreign ministry, that he was a spy, are categorically untrue,” Ms Pierce said.

“Above all he wasn’t a serving soldier when he founded Mayday and the White Helmets. The world, and Syria in particular, is poorer for his loss.”