AN ALLEGED British spy named by a Greek newspaper as taking part in the alleged torture of terror suspects in Athens has reportedly been recalled to London.

Two of his colleagues at the British Embassy in the Greek capital are also said to have returned home to be questioned about the reported arrest of 28 Pakistani-born men over the 7/7 bombings.

There is growing concern in Whitehall that more British agents will be named as the controversy deepens in Greece over why MI6 officers were allegedly abducting and abusing suspects.

The diplomat named by the Proto Thema newspaper has been previously identified on websites as a member of the security services. The newspaper described him as the MI6 station chief in Athens.

Whitehall has tried to block the British media from revealing the diplomat’s identity to protect his safety. Stephen Saunders, a former defence attaché at the embassy, was shot dead in June 2000 by left-wing terrorists.

Greek ministers have strongly condemned the naming of the British diplomat together with 15 members of the Greek intelligence service. Two of the Greek agents identified have been pulled out of Kosovo.

Jack Straw is likely to face renewed questioning about the alleged incident when MPs return from the holiday break after the Foreign Secretary’s unusually robust denial earlier this month of any British involvement in torture. He dismissed reports from Athens as “complete nonsense”.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office last night refused to comment on the whereabouts of the named diplomat, saying that it never discussed intelligence matters. The suspects claim that they were hooded, beaten and their lives threatened as they were held in secret, some for up to 15 days.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• UK regional accents thrive against the odds
• ‘Scarecrow’ wind farms put rare birds to flight
• What an anti-climax: G-spot is a myth