We go inside the Iranian Embassy siege on today's Spybrary podcast. Join us for a gripping episode of the Spybrary Spy Podcast, as host Shane Whaley sits down with renowned historian Ben Macintyre and counterterrorism and intelligence expert Rossa McPhillips to delve into the harrowing events of the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege in London. Macintyre's latest book, The Siege serves as the cornerstone of our discussion, offering an unprecedented look at this tense and historic event.
A thrilling tick-tock recounting one of the most harrowing hostage situations and daring rescue attempts of our time—from the true-life espionage master and New York Times bestselling author of Operation Mincemeat and The Spy and the Traitor.
Watch our conversation about The Iranian Embassy Siege with Ben Macintyre and Rossa McPhillips on YouTube.
Key Points Discussed:
Introduction of Guests:
Shane Welcomes Ben Macintyre discussing his prolific career, including works like “The Spy and the Traitor” and “A Spy Among Friends.”
Introduction of Rossa McPhillips, who offers unique insights from his background in British Army Intelligence and Metropolitan Police counterterrorism.
Personal Fascination with the Iranian Embassy Siege:
Ben Macintyre recalls his vivid memories of the live broadcast of the SAS storming the embassy, juxtaposed with a snooker match.
Unprecedented Access to the SAS:
Ben Macintyre shares his privileged access to surviving SAS members, offering firsthand accounts that demystify the event.
Complex Narrative:
Exploration of the complex nature of the gunmen, who were far from heroes but had their own compelling backstories.
Discussion of Iranian Embassy siege terrorists motives and the brutal oppression faced by the gunmen under the Ayatollah's regime.
Strategic Context:
A deeper look into the geopolitical backdrop, including the role of Iraqi intelligence and the Iranian Government response.
Intelligence and Tactics:
MI5's insertion of listening devices and the police's sympathetic yet firm handling of negotiations for a bloodless resolution.
Political Pressures:
Margaret Thatcher's constrained negotiating options and the influence of the American hostage crisis on British decisions.
How Thatcher's response to the siege solidified her “Iron Lady” legacy.
Military and Media:
The celebratory aftermath in Regent Park barracks with Margaret and Dennis Thatcher, a bittersweet moment with a touch of humor involving tear gas.
The impact of the event on SAS recruitment and their struggle to balance secrecy with newfound fame.
Ben Macintyre’s Next Book:
Ben Macintyre's teases us with some clues to the topic of his next book,.
Tour Announcement:
Details on Macintyre's upcoming US and Canadian tour, engaging fans across major cities.
Closing Remarks: Whaley, McPhillips, and Macintyre conclude the discussion with appreciative comments on Macintyre's impressive body of work and enthusiastic anticipation for future projects. A heartfelt thank you to listeners for tuning in and a call to explore Macintyre's new release, “The Siege“.
Join Us Next Time: Stay tuned for more thrilling spy content on the Spybrary Spy Podcast!
More about The Siege: A Six-Day Hostage Crisis and the Daring Special-Forces Operation That Shocked the World by Ben Macintyre
A thrilling tick-tock recounting one of the most harrowing hostage situations and daring rescue attempts of our time—from the true-life espionage master and New York Times bestselling author of Operation Mincemeat and The Spy and the Traitor.
“[Ben Macintyre is] John le Carré’s nonfiction counterpart.”—The New York Times
As the American hostage crisis in Iran boiled into its seventh month in the spring of 1980, six heavily armed gunman barged into the Iranian embassy in London, taking twenty-six hostages. What followed over the next six days was an increasingly tense standoff, one that threatened at any moment to spill into a bloodbath.
Policeman Trevor Lock was supposed to have gone to the theater that night. Instead, he found himself overpowered and whisked into the embassy. The terrorists never noticed the gun hidden in his jacket. The drama that ensued would force him to find reserves of courage he didn’t know he had. The gunmen themselves were hardly one-dimensional—all Arabs, some highly educated, who hoped to force Britain to take their side in their independence battle against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Behind the scenes lurked the brutal Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who had bankrolled the whole affair as a salvo against Iran.
As police negotiators pressed the gunmen, rival protestors clashed violently outside the embassy, and as MI6 and the CIA scrambled for intelligence, Britain’s special forces strike team, the SAS, laid plans for a dangerous rescue mission. Inside, Lock and his fellow hostages used all the cunning they possessed to outwit and outflank their captors. Finally, on the sixth day, after the terrorists executed the embassy press attaché and dumped his body on the front doorstep, the SAS raid began, sparking a deadly high-stakes climax.
A story of ordinary men and women under immense pressure, The Siege takes readers minute-by-thrilling-minute through an event that would echo across the next two decades and provide a direct historical link to the tragedy on 9/11. Drawing on exclusive interviews and a wealth of never-before-seen files, Macintyre brilliantly reconstructs a week in which every day minted a new hero and every second spelled the potential for doom.
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