Blair's bodyguards 'bought a rocket launcher on expenses to protect him in Gaza'
Tony Blair’s police bodyguards are being investigated over extraordinary claims they bought a device for launching rockets or grenades to protect the former prime minister.
Two members of the elite Scotland Yard unit which follows Mr Blair around the world are the subject of an official probe by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Watchdog officials want to know why the officers took it upon themselves to purchase the weapon, apparently on expenses, for a trip to Gaza. It is alleged they were not permitted to buy such a device.
Defender: Weapons such as this Arwen 37 can also fire smoke bombs
The pair claim it was not bought as a weapon, but was intended to fire ‘smoke bombs’ to thwart any attack on Mr Blair, who is the UN’s Middle East envoy. Any trip by him to Gaza carries huge risks.
In a separate development, a probe has been launched by the IPCC into claims a member of Mr Blair’s protection team broke rules by accompanying him to Israel and Gaza.
The Mail has learned the officer was forbidden from making such visits because his partner has worked for the Israeli security services. Her links to the organisation were documented when he was vetted to work in Scotland Yard’s SO1 Specialist Protection Unit, which provides armed personal protection for former prime ministers, serving ministers and visiting foreign dignitaries.
A Whitehall source claimed the officer was ‘extremely well regarded’ by Mr Blair and his wife, who would be likely to support him were disciplinary action taken.
A senior colleague, who allegedly approved the officer’s trips to Israel and Gaza, is also being investigated by the IPCC, sources revealed.
Target:Tony Blaiir, centre, with UN officials in Gaza City last year
Mr Blair made his first visit to Gaza on March 1 last year, nearly two years after he was appointed special representative for the UN, EU, Russia and the United States.
On that day, Mr Blair travelled only a few hundred yards across the Israel-Gaza border.
He stayed for a couple of hours, speaking to local residents and visiting a UN-operated school, before leaving for a high-profile conference in Egypt. The trip was clearly timed to distract attention from a much more diplomatically significant visit just hours later by Douglas Alexander.
The then International Development Secretary pledged £30million in aid for Palestinians made homeless by the war with Israel.
It was the first visit by a British minister since Hamas seized control of Gaza in a coup in 2007.
Mr Blair spends about one week each month in Jerusalem, where he has a staff of 12 working from the five-star American Colony Hotel.
Britain pays for the former premier’s 24-hour six-man security detail of detectives.
Details of the watchdog investigations emerged only months after it was revealed Mr Blair’s bodyguards cost the public purse £250,000 a year in expenses alone.
The latest revelations raised fresh questions about whether wealthy individuals – Mr Blair has an estimated £20million fortune – should contribute to their security costs.
As well as holidays, police officers accompanied the former premier on more than 21 international trips in the first four months of this year.
With reference to both IPCC cases, Scotland Yard confirmed that four officers were under investigation, three of whom were on restricted duties.
Sources confirmed the focus of the launcher inquiry was the ‘procurement process’.
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