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Mayday: 10. The Canister on the Bed

10. The Canister on the Bed

BBC Radio 4 - Mayday, 10. The Canister on the Bed

What really happened in the Douma Massacre?

“The crime scene had been left unguarded for two weeks”. When James Le Mesurier fell to his death he left behind a tangle of truths and lies.

"The crime scene had been left unguarded for two weeks” – What really happened in the Douma Massacre?

When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his detractors say – was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was found by worshippers on their way to morning prayers, there were a lot questions. 

This episode contains a description of the aftermath of a chemical attack.

Produced, written and presented by Chloe Hadjimatheou
Editor: Emma Rippon 
Researcher: Tom Wright
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Mixed by Neil Churchill 
Arabic translation and additional research: Vanessa Bowles, Abdul Kader Habak
Turkish Researcher: Nevin Sungur
Narrative Consultant: John Yorke
Original music: Nick Mundy and Bu Kolthoum

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When James Le Mesurier fell to his death he left behind a tangle of truths and lies.

When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey he left behind a tangle of truths and lies about his involvement with the White Helmets first responders in Syria.

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