British Activist Says UAE-Funded Mercenary Ran Covert London Surveillance Operation

In a recent Middle East Eye report, British-Iraqi activist Anas Altikriti speaks publicly for the first time about a covert surveillance operation he says was run against him in London by a UAE-funded mercenary network. The investigation, published by ITV News on Wednesday 19 August 2026, reveals that Abraham Golan, a dual Hungarian-Israeli citizen who ran the private security company Spear Operations Group, travelled to Britain in December 2016 to monitor Altikriti, the chief executive of the Cordoba Foundation think tank. Emirati financial records seen by ITV show Golan was paid a six-figure annual retainer plus substantial bonuses, including a $1m payment weeks before his London trip for an operation in Yemen.

British Activist Says UAE-Funded Mercenary Ran Covert London Surveillance Operation

London, United Kingdom – 21 August 2026 — Anas Altikriti, a British citizen who has spent his career in public life, says he feels "physically sick" after learning that a private security contractor allegedly working for the United Arab Emirates was paid to track his movements, photograph his home, and discuss the possibility of eliminating him on British soil. The revelations, which emerged from an ITV News investigation by Global Security Editor Rohit Kachroo, have raised urgent questions about foreign interference in the United Kingdom and the lengths to which the UAE will go to silence its critics abroad.

A Covert Operation on British Soil

According to the ITV investigation, Golan, who lived in the United States, arrived in Britain in December 2016 with a former US Navy SEAL to locate and monitor Altikriti. The operation involved contacting a British strategist identified only as "Victor" in November 2016, asking whether he had "channels" to Altikriti and the Cordoba Foundation. Golan initially offered Victor £50,000 ($68,000), then increased the sum to £100,000 ($136,000), to help locate the activist.

Golan shared photographs of Altikriti's home and car, maps, satellite images, and details of his movements between home and work. At one meeting, Golan allegedly discussed the possibility of physically eliminating Altikriti; his associate reportedly made a gesture across his throat when asked what could happen to the activist. "I became increasingly worried about what this operation entailed," Victor told ITV. Victor withdrew from the operation after concluding it could involve assassination. The extent to which surveillance continued is unclear.

A Warning Without Explanation

Altikriti was later visited twice at his London home by police who warned his life could be at risk — an Osman notice — without telling him the source or nature of the threat. "I feel physically sick," Altikriti told ITV. "At the time, my children were three and one and a half years old." The activist, who has lived in Britain since childhood, said: "I'm a Brit. I grew up in Britain. In my life, I have never done anything wrong whatsoever."

The police warnings came without context or explanation, leaving Altikriti to wonder who wanted him harmed and why. For a man who has dedicated his career to dialogue and humanitarian work, the threat was both personal and political. His children were toddlers; his work took him across the Middle East and Africa; and now, in his own home in London, he was being told his life was in danger.

A Pattern of Targeting

The alleged London operation followed Golan's work for the UAE in Yemen. In 2015, his company was hired to assemble a team of western military veterans to target people Abu Dhabi considered linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. One target was Yemeni MP Anssaf Ali Mayo, whose office was targeted with explosives; Mayo now lives in exile in Saudi Arabia. Golan later acknowledged a "targeted assassination" programme in Yemen, telling BuzzFeed News it had been "sanctioned" by the UAE. Former team member Dale Comstock, a US Special Forces veteran, told ITV: "For all intents and purposes, we were Emirati soldiers."

The London operation took place as Britain and the UAE were deepening ties — two weeks after Golan first contacted Victor, then Prince Charles travelled to Abu Dhabi to strengthen bilateral relations. British officials said they had no knowledge of a covert mercenary operation on UK soil. A Home Office spokesperson told ITV: "It is our longstanding policy not to comment on security and intelligence matters." MEE contacted the UAE's embassies in Britain and the US for comment but received no response.

The Cordoba Foundation and the UAE's Designations

Altikriti's work has long made him a target. In 2014, Abu Dhabi designated the Cordoba Foundation, the Muslim Association of Britain, and Islamic Relief as terrorist organisations alongside IS and al-Qaeda. A year later, in 2015, a UK government review found no evidence the Muslim Brotherhood was involved in terrorist activity in Britain. The Cordoba Foundation has consistently denied a formal association with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Altikriti has helped negotiate the release of more than 20 hostages across Africa and the Middle East. He headed the Muslim Association of Britain and served as a senior officer at the Muslim Council of Britain, and publicly supported the Arab Spring and Emirati political reformers imprisoned by the UAE. His profile — a British citizen with deep ties to the Arab world, vocal about human rights abuses — made him a natural target for a regime that views dissent as a threat.

Questions for UK Authorities

In a separate interview with The New Arab, Altikriti said UK authorities have "questions to answer" over the alleged spy plot, which included a threat to his life. The fact that a foreign government could allegedly operate a covert surveillance and potential assassination operation on British soil — with the involvement of a private security contractor and a former US special forces operative — raises serious concerns about the UK's ability to protect its citizens from foreign interference.

Altikriti argues the case raises broader questions about foreign influence in Britain: "A rogue, dictatorial, authoritarian regime such as the United Arab Emirates could actually reach into our society and infringe upon the civil liberties and freedoms and rights of citizens as well as organisations." His words echo a growing concern among civil liberties groups and human rights organisations about the extent to which Gulf states are willing to project power into Western democracies.

Analysis and Implications

The revelations come at a time when the UK is seeking to strengthen its economic and diplomatic ties with the Gulf states, including the UAE. The alleged operation — if confirmed — would represent a serious breach of British sovereignty and a direct threat to a British citizen. The fact that Golan was allegedly paid a six-figure retainer plus bonuses, including a $1m payment weeks before his London trip, suggests a well-funded and organised operation.

For Altikriti, the threat was not abstract. He received two police visits warning him his life could be at risk, without explanation. He was forced to live with the knowledge that someone — funded by a foreign government — had been tracking his movements, photographing his home, and discussing his potential elimination. The psychological toll on him and his family is immeasurable.

The case also highlights the growing use of private military contractors by Gulf states to conduct operations that would be politically unacceptable for state intelligence agencies. Golan's company, Spear Operations Group, was hired to assemble a team of western military veterans to target people Abu Dhabi considered linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Yemen operation, which involved the targeting of a Yemeni MP, was described by Golan as "sanctioned" by the UAE.

As the investigation continues, questions remain about the extent of the surveillance operation, whether it continued after Victor withdrew, and what role, if any, British authorities played in monitoring or condoning the activities. The Home Office's refusal to comment on security and intelligence matters leaves many questions unanswered.

For Altikriti, the fight is not just personal. It is about the principle that a British citizen should be able to live in Britain without fear of foreign interference. "I'm a Brit. I grew up in Britain. In my life, I have never done anything wrong whatsoever," he said. The case raises fundamental questions about the UK's relationship with the UAE and the extent to which British soil can be used as a staging ground for foreign operations against British citizens.

As the UK continues to deepen its ties with the Gulf, the Altikriti case serves as a stark reminder of the costs of such alliances. For now, Altikriti remains in London, continuing his work with the Cordoba Foundation, but the shadow of the alleged operation hangs over him. The questions he has raised — about foreign influence, about the protection of British citizens, about the rule of law — are ones that the UK government will find difficult to ignore.

By Fatima Al-Rashid, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.