The Spy Who Lived Inside Al-Qaeda | Disposable Hero | 3

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0:16August 2011, Sanaa, Yemen. Danish spy Morten Storm leans against his Suzuki truck and watches the crowds outside the KFC in front of him. It's a late evening during Ramadan, and the fast food restaurant is crowded with young people breaking their daytime fast. The brightly lit Colonel Sander's logo is a surreal contrast with the white and gold minarets of the huge mosque that sits just behind the restaurant. Storm is waiting for a courier. In the pocket of his torp, he's got a USB stick containing an encrypted message for Anwar al-Awlaki. The terrorist cleric still thinks Storm is a friend and committed Western converts to the jihadist movement.

1:05But al-Awlaki is also a CIA assassination target. So now, all contact is made via encrypted messages on USB sticks that are ferried back and forth via a succession of trusted al-Qaeda couriers. But the USB stick in Storm's pocket contains more than a message. It also contains a tracker implanted by the CIA to help them find al-Awlaki's hideout. Storm sees a young man pushing through the crowd. He's wearing a traditional Yemeni turban wrapped around his dark hair and is heading straight for Storm. It must be the courier. As he approaches, the courier speaks in a hushed voice. Colour. Green. Code words exchanged, Storm hands over a sports bag.

1:58It's full of supplies requested by al-Awlaki, including wood briquettes, the kind used by campers to make fires. Al-Awlaki wanted hexamine briquettes, but hexamine can also be used for making explosives. So he and his spymasters decided to send him wooden ones instead. Storm then takes the USB stick out of his pocket. Don't forget this. It has the documents the Sheikh wants to see. The courier gives the USB stick a dubious glance. Then he shoves it into his pocket. and disappears into the crowd. As he watches the courier disappear, Storm feels breathless. He keeps thinking of the many pleasant times he's spent with Al-Awlaki, and how, if the tracker does its job, he will soon be responsible for his death.

2:56Three days later. In his motel room, Storm opens the encrypted message from Alaulaki on his laptop. He thanks Storm for the supplies, but says he never got the USB stick. The courier was stopped by police and had to destroy it. Fuck! The CIA will be livid at yet another failed attempt to find Alaulaki. Storm reads the rest of the message. The briquettes I need are hexamine. The ones you sent me are something else. Storm frowns. It's now clear that Al-Awlaki wants them for explosives, not warmth. It's going to be harder to avoid supplying them to him without endangering his cover. But that's not all Al-Awlaki wants.

3:44Also, I heard that the New York Times reported that Al-Qaeda in Yemen is buying a lot of caster beans to make rice in and attack the US. Find me what you can on that. Storm shudders. Ricin is a toxin so deadly that a single speck can kill. His last vestiges of unease about helping the CIA assassinate his former friend dissolve. Al-Awlaki seems hell-bent on killing innocent people in the name of his religion. Storm has to find a way to stop him.

4:45We'll see you next time.

4:55I heard a rumour that the CIA poisoned my grandad. Gordon Banks, the world's number one goalkeeper. It happened in Mexico, supposedly, at the World Cup in 1970. Sounds crazy? I'm an investigative journalist on the hunt for evidence. We needed to do some extraordinary things to counter the Soviets. This is Foul Play, an unbelievable tale of sports, spies and family secrets. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or early and ad-free on Audible.

5:30From Wondery, I'm Razza Jafri and this is The Spy Who. In the last episode, Storm found a new wife for Anwar al-Awlaki. But when a plan to use her to locate al-Awlaki failed, the CIA lost trust in Storm. But now, the CIA have offered him$5 million if he can find a new way to lead them to the jihadi preacher. This is episode three of The Spy Who Lived Inside Al-Qaeda. Disposable Hero.

6:11September 2011. Sana 'a, Yemen. In his home in Yemen's capital city, one of Storm's jihadi contacts is cleaning his pistol when his mobile phone rings. Yeah? I'm ready to collect. Where? The mall car park. 30 minutes. The jihadi opens a desk drawer and picks up the USB stick Mawson Storm entrusted to him and heads out the door.

6:4230 minutes later. The jihadi stands in a shopping mall car park, leaning against his car while texting a message to Storm. The guy just called. I'm waiting for him now. Storm is no longer in Yemen. He returned to Europe a couple of weeks ago to spend time with his children during the school holidays. But before leaving, Storm asked this jihadi to deliver a USB stick to a courier who could get it to al-Awlaki. A battered, dusty Toyota Hilux truck pulls into the car park. The jihadi stands up and puts his phone away. A man in tribal clothes gets out of the Toyota and approaches him. I'm here to collect.

7:27You know where to take it? Yeah, I'll get it there. The man takes the USB stick and gets back in his truck. As it leaves the car park, the jihadi texts Storm again. Pick up. Made.

7:47At his home in Europe, Storm is packing for an expedition into the jungles of Borneo. When he's not spying, he now runs a survival training business that also provides a useful cover for his regular travel in and out of Yemen. His phone pings with a text message confirmation that the USB stick he left with his contact in Yemen is now on its way to Al-Awlaki. He forwards the message to his Danish handler, Klang, so he can let the CIA know. Storm smiles as he gets back to packing. He imagines that in some CIA office, groups of men and women will soon be using satellites to track the couriers taking his USB stick to Al-Aulaki.

8:29And then, he imagines the$5 million payday that will follow.

8:41A few weeks later, Birmingham, England Storm slumps onto the lounge chair in his living room And reaches for the TV remote He got back from Borneo a few days earlier But he still feels jet-lagged And wants to relax in front of the TV for an hour or so Our main story again US-born radical Islamist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a key al-Qaeda leader, has been killed in a drone strike in Yemen. US officials announced the news earlier today. Storm sags in his chair. Photos of al-Awlaki fill the screen with his round glasses and neatly trimmed beard. Storm feels sick as the photos are placed with another image.

9:24The image of a scorched skeleton of a car in the Yemeni desert. He knows Al-Awlaki was dangerous, but right now, all he can remember are the moments of friendship they shared. The jokes, the kindness Al-Awlaki showed his son, and his magnetic personality. Storm's phone vibrates in his pocket. It's clang. Have you seen the news? Yeah, just now. Can't believe it. Good for you, though, my friend. I'm calling the Americans. We'll speak later. Storm remembers he's now due a$5 million reward for helping the CIA find Al-Awlaki. The thrill of such wealth mixes uneasily with his guilt at profiting from his friend's death.

10:10He thinks of praying for forgiveness, but shakes it off. He's an atheist now. Klang calls back. Morten, um... Sorry, I got ahead of myself there. It wasn't us. Storm is almost relieved. He knew he wasn't the only agent tasked with locating Al-Awlaki. It's fine. Tell Jed and the Americans, well done. I will.

10:44Two days later, Birmingham. In his local convenience store, Storm picks up a copy of the Sunday Telegraph while waiting in line to pay for his milk and bread. There's a large photo of Al-Awlaki on the front page. The headline reads, How America Finally Caught Up With Anwar Al-Awlaki. Storm's eyes narrow as he reads how the breakthrough came when the CIA caught one of Al-Awlaki's couriers three weeks ago. Storm retrieves his phone from his pocket and checks his messages. Three weeks ago That was when his contact in Yemen Texted to say the USB stick Had been collected by Al-Awlaki's courier The shopkeeper smiles at Storm Morning sir, how are you today?

11:34Fine Taken aback The shopkeeper hurriedly processes his payment But Storm's blood is boiling And he can't control it It's too much of a coincidence It has to be his tip-off that led the CIA to al-Awlaki. But why would they lie about it? There's only one explanation. They want a weasel out of paying him. Storm grinds his teeth. How dare they? He puts his life on the line every day, and they double-cross him. He needs that money. Most of the quarter of a million dollars the CIA previously gave him has been spent on his survival training business. But the business is failing To try and cope with the money troubles And the stress of living a double life He's using cocaine again Five million dollars would mean a new life One where he can stop lying And live as himself again He won't let the CIA Take that from him

12:38One week later Helsingor, Denmark In an upscale hotel, Storm prowls the marble floor of the lobby like a caged tiger. His Danish handler, Klang, enters. There's a somber expression on his face. Storm follows him outside and to one of the hotel's beachside villas, the one furthest away from other guests. Storm smiles grimly. They're expecting a scene. They walk in single file past the swimming pool and guests in deck chairs Storm tries to mentally prepare He's starting to realize he's just as alone and vulnerable among these intelligence agencies As he is among the militant jihadists Walking behind Clang, he discreetly retrieves his phone And flicks it onto the voice record Inside the villa, a tall man with a square jaw moves forward as Clang performs the introductions.

13:39Morton, this is Michael from the CIA. Where's Jed? Michael assesses Storm for a moment. Jed had to fly back to the States. Why don't you and I go upstairs and have a chat? They head upstairs to the elegant sitting room where the two men eye each other like boxers across the designer coffee table. Storm breaks the silence. You're not going to convince me. I'm not here to convince you of anything. I'm just here to talk. The man you killed was a good friend of mine, but because of the evil in him, I knew he was a threat that had to be destroyed. That's right. He had to be taken out. But what I don't understand is why you feel we cheated you over it.

14:19Who was the courier? What courier? The newspaper. It says you got him through a courier three weeks ago. That was my courier. He picked up the USB stick that I left for Al-Aulaki. I set it up, and you don't even say thank you! Look, Morton, I don't know anything about a courier. Storm doesn't believe him. His anger begins to bubble insistently against the lid he's tried to put on it. I've always been honest with you guys. Every bit of information you've ever had from my side has always been honest. I never accused you of lying. Exactly. I'm not lying. You are. You're just sitting there and lying.

14:54He shouts down so Clang and the others below can hear. He's just sitting here and lying. The CIA man stands and buttons his suit jacket. I've had enough. Storm watches Michael stride out the door and fights the urge to rush after him and beat him up. Clang hurries upstairs. Morton, what happened? Storm clenches his fists. He's sick of being a pawn in a web of deceit where he can't even trust his handlers. Guess what? I recorded that whole conversation. Clang turns visibly pale beneath his tan. You can't. Well, I just did. And I quit.

15:51Four months later, January 2012, southern Yemen. In the front seat of a Toyota Land Cruiser, Morton Storm tightly grips a Kalashnikov as he's bounced over the rough desert road. Draped around his torso is an ammunition belt. Next to him, his longtime Yemeni friend, Abdul, sits with a grenade launcher resting on his lap. Abdul looks terrified. The car hits a bump at speed and the grenade launcher bangs on the roof hard. Abdul cringes. Are you sure it's not going to go off? A driver, a swarthy 40-year-old veteran jihadist, slams the brakes. Look, Abdul, I told you, only fires if the levers are released.

16:37They are on, on, see? It's perfectly safe. Yeah, I see, I see. Good. Storm glances at Abdul. He looks like he's seen a ghost. Storm wonders again if he is actually a CIA spy. It's only a few months since Storm's own bust-up with the CIA. After his announcement of having recorded his meeting with the CIA man, the Danish intelligence service PET cuts all ties with him. They were not just worried about the fallout with the CIA, but also politically. Danish law forbids PET from being involved in assassinations. Storm was left isolated and bereft. He missed the sense of purpose spying gave him and began using drugs again.

17:23He leans across Abdul to address the driver. They tell me you were with Sheikh Anwar when those American bastards took him from us The grizzled face of the driver dissolves into real grief He blinks hard and takes a moment to reply I was not there, brother But I should have been When we found them, I only knew it was him because of a single patch of skin left on his forehead He's in paradise now And we will make the Kuffar pay for his death Both Abdul and Storm Storm cores the response. Allahu Akbar! Abdul still looks terrified. But Storm knows it's far too risky to ever ask Abdul about his true allegiance.

18:07Besides, Storm needs to concentrate on his own mission. Determined to prove his worth to his estranged spymasters, Storm's come up with a plan to regain their trust by finding Nasir al-Wuhashi. Al-Wahashi is the leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. There is also talk he will soon be the appointed second in command of al-Qaeda globally. Storm knows he will be a high-profile CIA target. And Storm knows people who know al-Wahashi. Klang sounded wary when Storm called him with the idea. Finally, he reluctantly agreed to fund Storm's expenses for the trip. But he refused to tell the CIA about the mission until Storm proves he can find Al-Wahashi.

18:56So now Storm's back in Yemen to prove his plan couldn't work. The driver, his grief now under control, interrupts Storm's musings. When we get to Yar, keep alert. Government forces are building up in the hills near it. They'll try to retake it again soon. Storm nods. He always knew this would be his most dangerous mission yet. but he is taken aback by the driver's next words. Oh, and before you meet Brother Al-Wahashi, you must take the oath. Storm is the only man in the car who has not sworn allegiance to Al-Qaeda. Abdul looks at him intently. Storm wonders if he can avoid it. I told Sheikh Anwar I cannot condone the killing of innocents.

19:41The driver spits the cart leaves he's been chewing out of the window. We know you'll not be asked to do so. The driver's sidelong glance holds more than a hint of suspicion at such principles. Storm knows he has no choice. In that case, I would be honoured to take the oath.

20:10The next morning, Yar, Yemen. Storm is on the rooftop of a mosque Just outside the town of Yar Around him rages a battle Between al-Qaeda and government forces But Storm lies on his back Staring vacantly at the sky All he can think of Is his impending death He left his backpack In a pickup truck Filled with al-Qaeda fighters In the backpack Is a USB stick With the recording of his argument With Michael from the CIA It's not just proof he's a foreign spy But that he actively worked to achieve the death Of Sheikh Anwar al-Awlaki He wonders how he could have been so stupid as to have brought it with him But in truth, he just forgot about it In his paranoia that Danish intelligence would try and steal it from him He had taken to carrying it with him wherever he went

21:10Storm becomes dimly aware the battle has ended. He hears the sounds of the fighters returning to the mosque. If he is found like this, there will be questions asked, no matter what. He hoists himself to his feet and walks downstairs unsteadily. He tries to school his face into eagerness to hear about the battle. But if they have discovered that recording, no amount of bluff can save him. The doors open, and armed Al-Qaeda fighters file in, dusty but victorious. Among them is the grizzled driver of the car, and he's got Storm's backpack in his hand. Storm feels an urgent need to vomit, but the driver smiles.

21:54Murad, you forgot this in the car. Storm takes it and hopes he has the right combination of surprise and gratitude on his face. Oh, thank you. I'll forget my head next. After 15 minutes, he nonchalantly takes his backpack upstairs to the sleeping quarters. As soon as he is alone, he checks for the USB drive.

22:21Relief washes over him. It's in exactly the same place. He hears footsteps and quickly re-zips the bag, placing it carelessly next to his mattress. The driver appears. Come on, brother. Al-Wahashi is ready to meet you.

22:45A few weeks later, Helsingur, Denmark. Storm again walks the narrow path to the self-contained hotel villa, where six months earlier he had his explosive showdown with the CIA. He just hopes today goes better. He's here to meet with Danish intelligence and find out if he's back in the spy game.

23:11Inside, his handler, Klang, gets beers out of the minibar and hands one to Storm. Then he gets straight to business. The dragging device inside the fridge is being retested as we speak. Storm smiles. This is promising. In Yemen, al-Wu 'ashi told Storm he still wants the portable fridge that al-Awlaki asked for. He clearly wants to store explosives, and before al-Awlaki's death, the CIA planned to install a transponder inside the fridge. Now that plan is being revived, only this time to support the hunt for al-Wuhashi. Klang slides an iPhone across the table. This is from our American friends. Keep it with you and on at all times.

23:58The deal is$1 million if you lead them to al-Wuhashi, plus another 2.2 million if you can also find these three senior jihadis. Storm looks at the photos and nods. So I'm back in with the CIA. Sozov, they don't want to deal with you directly anymore, so everything is through us. Storm sighs. He wonders what else he needs to do to regain the Americans' trust. Oh, and you need to stick with Abdul for this mission. We just think it will go smoother. Yemen's a war zone now. It'll be difficult to travel to the tribal areas. Storm raises an eyebrow. And because Abdul works for the Americans. Clang moves to deny it, but Storm holds up a hand.

24:47Don't insult my intelligence. Clang rolls his eyes. Fine, yes, he does. But you don't know this and you definitely didn't hear it from me. Storm feels a thrill in getting Clang, a trained intelligence officer, to confirm his suspicions. It also feels good to know he and Abdul are on the same side, even if they can never talk about it to each other.

25:14May 2012. Sana 'a, Yemen. Storm paces his rented apartment in Yemen's capital. In the living room sits the small squat fridge he brought with him, and hidden deep inside it is the CIA's tracking device. But now, Abdul has failed to show up. He was supposed to contact Storm the day after he arrived in Yemen, but nobody knows where he is. Storm managed to get hold of his wife, who said, Abdul's in China. Storm feels stress tightening around his throat. Something is wrong. What the hell is Abdul doing in China? He texts the phone number he got from Abdul's wife. Abdul, I thought you were meeting me in Yemen.

26:01Why are you in China? Within a minute, Abdul's reply comes through. Come see me here. Storm frowns and texts back, insisting that they meet in Yemen. Almost as soon as he has sent the text, Storm's iPhone rings. It's Abdul. Murad, you must come here. It's important. I can't tell you over the phone. Storm's head is ringing with questions He tells Abdul he'll try He calls his emergency number for Danish intelligence and explains what's happened There's silence on the other end of the line for a moment Morton, if you go to China, do you think you can bring Abdul back to Yemen with you? Storm senses something has gone wrong But nobody is telling him Yes, I can get him back Then go, but don't take the iPhone we gave you Storm narrows his eyes.

26:59The most dangerous mission of his career so far is going belly up, and he's groping in the dark to understand why.