British Iraqi weapons 'mole' reported missing

An official adviser on Iraqi arms named as the possible “mole” for a BBC report claiming the British government “sexed up” its dossier on weapons of mass destruction has been reported missing by his family, British police said today.

Dr David Kelly, 59, went missing from his home near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK, at around 3pm yesterday after telling his wife he was going for a walk, Thames Valley Police said.

The family called police when he had failed to return by 11.45pm last night.

Dr Kelly faced a grilling on Tuesday by British MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee about what he told BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan, who filed the original report claiming the British government had “sexed up” the weapons dossier.

Acting Superintendent Dave Purnell, of Abingdon police, said: “We are concerned for Dr Kelly’s welfare and need to hear from anyone who recalls seeing a man of this description in the area since yesterday afternoon.

“Due to the bad weather and the fact it is unlikely he was wearing a coat he would have been distinctive and people who may have seen him in the area are urged to contact police as soon as possible.”

British police said his disappearance and failure to make contact with anyone was described by his family as “out of character”.

Initial searches of his house, outbuildings and grounds were completed in the early hours of this morning.

A British police helicopter has been deployed as part of the search.

Checks of local hospitals have also shown no trace.

Police said it was not unusual for him to walk for two or three hours at a time, but unusual for him to do this alone.