Rwanda spy chief accused of war crimes who was bailed with the help of Cherie Blair ‘was in Britain to meet the head of MI6’

A Rwandan spy chief arrested in London over alleged war crimes was in Britain to meet the head of MI6, it was claimed last night. General Karenzi Karake, who runs Rwanda’s intelligence agencies, was to visit his British counterpart last Thursday, but the meeting is thought to have been cancelled at the last minute. Two days later, he was held at Heathrow on a European arrest warrant issued by Spain for alleged war crimes 21 years ago.

There was speculation last night that the meeting with Alex Younger, Britain’s most senior intelligence official, was cancelled after MI6 learned of Karake’s imminent arrest. Cherie Blair helped secure bail for Karake, 54, at a hearing at Westminster magistrates’ court in Central London two days ago. The wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair is part of his defence team. District Judge Quentin Purdy set Karake’s bail at £1million and ordered him to stay within the M25. As head of military intelligence, Karake is accused of ordering massacres after the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and is said to have murdered three Spanish aid workers.
Thursday’s court hearing was told that Karake had been in Britain on official business to meet the head of an unnamed ‘UK body’. Rwanda’s justice minister and attorney general, Johnston Busingye, said outside court: ‘I believe his visit was to his counterparts in the UK.’

A source told BBC Newsnight that the visit to Mr Younger – known as ‘C’ – was scheduled for June 18, but was cancelled at the 11th hour.

Karake is expected to fight extradition by arguing that he is protected by diplomatic immunity, which could lead to a costly legal battle at taxpayers’ expense.

A hearing into Karake’s extradition will take place on October 29.