MI5 reveals its secrets in a new London exhibition, marking 115 years since its founding. The show features artifacts, including Karl Muller’s tale, a double agent captured in 1915. It highlights the agency’s history, its evolution, and the growing role of women in espionage, alongside interactive challenges for visitors.
MI5, the renowned British spy agency, is showcasing its secrets through its first-ever exhibition in London, commemorating 115 years of its history. The exhibition features insights from double agents and gadgets reminiscent of James Bond. A central figure is Karl Muller, suspected of espionage in 1915, who inadvertently used a lemon’s juice as invisible ink in a intercepted letter detailing British troop movements, leading to his execution.
Founded before World War I to counter fears of German invasion, MI5’s first head was army officer Vernon Kell. Today, it employs over 5,000 personnel, with MI6 as its foreign service counterpart. MI5 director Ken McCallum remarked that reality often diverges from fiction in their operations, where ordinary people engage in exceptional activities for national security.
The free exhibition, running from April 5 to September 28, reveals some of MI5’s more troubling historical facets. Highlights include Guy Burgess’s abandoned passport and briefcase, reflecting his status as a defected Soviet agent, and a note detailing Queen Elizabeth II’s calm knowledge of Anthony Blunt’s espionage activities.
Recent artifacts include an IRA mortar shell fired at 10 Downing Street in 1991. The display includes voices from anonymous MI5 agents, highlighting ongoing challenges in managing informants and ensuring their loyalty and truthfulness. Since 2022, women account for nearly 48% of MI5’s workforce, a significant shift since its inception when intelligence roles were predominantly male. Notably, agent Maxwell Knight once advocated for the intuitive strengths women can bring to espionage.
Visitors to the exhibition can also engage with challenges, such as information retention and code-breaking, to gauge their potential as spies, further enriching the interactive experience.
The MI5 exhibition in London is a historical showcase of the agency’s secrets and evolution over 115 years. It highlights key figures, notable espionage tactics, and the changing demographics within MI5. The engaging format encourages public participation, allowing visitors to explore the complexities of intelligence work.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com