British police join Greek murder probe

Police hope co-operation between forces will catch killers

Experts from Britain have joined Greek authorities investigating the murder of defence attache Stephen Saunders.

Four officers from the Metropolitan Police were flown out to Athens on Thursday after a request for help from Greek investigators.

The Greek guerrilla group November 17 claims it killed Brigadier Saunders in Athens because of his role in the Kosovo conflict.

No member of the Marxist-Leninist group has ever been caught throughout its 25-year campaign.

The Foreign Office is also re-examining security arrangements for British personnel abroad as a result of the shooting.

Flying squads

A Foreign Office spokesman would not confirm whether anti-terrorism experts were among the British team but said the police from both countries were working well together.

"It does not happen regularly but it is not a unique experience," he said.

British police have joined investigations into hostage deaths in Kashmir

British and Metropolitan police are used to sending their officers out to help with investigations abroad.

Last year more than 100 police officers served in global hotspots like Bosnia, Kosovo and East Timor.

Officers sent to Pristina were involved in selecting local police officers and supervising field training after the war.

Police forensic scientists flew to India in February this year to investigate claims that authorities had identified the body of British tourist Paul Wells, kidnapped five years ago.

The Foreign Office spokesman said there had been a number of instances where British citizens had died or been killed abroad and the local authorities needed help with the investigations.

He said the length of the officers' visit to Greece would depend on how the investigation developed.

Scotland Yard has refused to comment.