Murder probe after drug death of Army spy regiment expert
POLICE have launched a murder investigation after a soldier from the most secretive Army intelligence unit was found dead at his home, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Captain Chris McMahon, 40, who worked for the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR), was found dead at his home in Banstead, Surrey. Ministry of Defence sources said Capt McMahon had served with the Royal Marines 42 Commando before being recruited to the SRR, where he is understood to have spent time spying on Al Qaeda and Taliban forces after British troops were deployed in Afghanistan’s Helmand province in 2006.
Surrey Police last night said they had arrested two men on suspicion of murder and supplying Class A drugs. Both have been released on bail.
A spokesman said: ‘Police were called by South East Coast Ambulance Service who were attending an address in Banstead, where a man was suffering an apparent medical episode at around 7.05am on August 26.
‘Sadly, despite the best efforts of paramedics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. He has been formally identified as Chris McMahon, a 40-yearold man from Surrey.
‘Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying Class A drugs. They have been released on bail. An investigation to establish the circumstances around Chris’s death remains ongoing.’
Neighbours in Banstead are believed to have been unaware of Captain McMahon’s shadowy and sensitive work.
The SRR was established in April 2005 to monitor and gather intelligence as Britain faced unprecedented threats from Islamist terrorism in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
Based in Hereford, it is believed to have up to 700 members drafted in from other Army units.
The MoD refused to confirm that Captain McMahon worked for the SRR, but a spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that a Serviceperson has died at his home. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.
‘The incident is being investigated and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.’