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The spy story
A big, long and complicated case
At Auckland's Central Police Station, Detective Inspector Allan
Galbraith, appointed to oversee the investigation, knew that this would
be a big, long and complicated case. He immediately demanded additional
resources. By the end of the week, 56 officers would form the
investigation team, at its height that number would grow to over 100.
Over the next four months more than 6,000 interviews would be carried
out.
For now, however, the investigation was in its infancy. Following interviews with the crew, the police already had some initial leads. The morning papers reported the attack on the Rainbow Warrior and that the Auckland police wanted to interview a Frenchman who had visited the ship earlier that day. This prompted Frank McLean, a Senior Customs Officer in Whangarei, north of Auckland, to recall - and report - an incident in late June involving a French crewed sloop ship, the Ouvéa. She had been docked in Whangarei and set sail on 9 July. During routine immigration checks, McLean's instincts told him something didn't quite fit. Having a distinct military bearing, three of them carried brand new, uncreased, and unmarked passports.
One claimed to be a
photographer although no camera equipment was in evidence when McLean
checked over the vessel.
Back in Auckland, the hole in the side of the Rainbow Warrior had now been thoroughly examined. Big enough to drive a car through: the first bomb had blown the generator to pieces; the second damaged the propeller, stern-shaft and rudder, cracked the stern frame in two places and blew in a ballast tank. The previous night's abandoned Zodiac, the man in the wetsuit and the white camper van, now traced to Newman's car rentals, took on new sinister overtones.
July 12th:
Becky Hayter reported to work at the airport branch of Newman's shortly
before 8:30am. Standing at the counter was the Swiss couple to whom she
had leased a white Toyota Hiace. They had decided to go home early they
told her, and wanted to return their van as they were due to fly out of
Auckland that very morning. Alain Turenge estimated that he was
entitled to a refund of NZ$130.
Becky and the other Newman's staff had already been alerted that the drivers of this particular van were wanted for questioning, however. While one kept the Swiss couple talking, another called the police. Twenty minutes later Detective David McSweeney walked into the office and the Turenges were invited to accompany him back to the police station for questioning.
It didn't take long to establish they were carrying false passports. Later, their true identities were revealed: Major Alain Mafart and Captain Dominique Prieur were both high-ranking agents of the DGSE, the French Secret Services.
Evidence and logic, however, suggested they acted only in a support role for the bombers. The eye-witness accounts of the Titcheners and the guys from the Outboard Boating Club revealed the presence of others in the story, and the questionable crew of the Ouvéa drew increasing attention.
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The fact that the hull was blasted inward was the first clue that the Rainbow Warrior had been sabotaged.
For now, however, the investigation was in its infancy. Following interviews with the crew, the police already had some initial leads. The morning papers reported the attack on the Rainbow Warrior and that the Auckland police wanted to interview a Frenchman who had visited the ship earlier that day. This prompted Frank McLean, a Senior Customs Officer in Whangarei, north of Auckland, to recall - and report - an incident in late June involving a French crewed sloop ship, the Ouvéa. She had been docked in Whangarei and set sail on 9 July. During routine immigration checks, McLean's instincts told him something didn't quite fit. Having a distinct military bearing, three of them carried brand new, uncreased, and unmarked passports.
Captain Dominique Prieur, alias "Sophie Turenge" one of two French agents convicted and sentenced for the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.
Back in Auckland, the hole in the side of the Rainbow Warrior had now been thoroughly examined. Big enough to drive a car through: the first bomb had blown the generator to pieces; the second damaged the propeller, stern-shaft and rudder, cracked the stern frame in two places and blew in a ballast tank. The previous night's abandoned Zodiac, the man in the wetsuit and the white camper van, now traced to Newman's car rentals, took on new sinister overtones.
Major Alain Mafart, alias "Alain Turenge" one of two French agents convicted and sentenced for the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.
Becky and the other Newman's staff had already been alerted that the drivers of this particular van were wanted for questioning, however. While one kept the Swiss couple talking, another called the police. Twenty minutes later Detective David McSweeney walked into the office and the Turenges were invited to accompany him back to the police station for questioning.
It didn't take long to establish they were carrying false passports. Later, their true identities were revealed: Major Alain Mafart and Captain Dominique Prieur were both high-ranking agents of the DGSE, the French Secret Services.
Evidence and logic, however, suggested they acted only in a support role for the bombers. The eye-witness accounts of the Titcheners and the guys from the Outboard Boating Club revealed the presence of others in the story, and the questionable crew of the Ouvéa drew increasing attention.
< Previous Page Page 3 of 4. Next Page >
Book by former crewmember
Eyes of Fire
To mark the twentieth anniversary of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, David Robie's Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior has been republished. The book is the remarkable tale of the last voyage of the bombed ship to the Marshall Islands.
