Boris Johnson found 'bugging device in his toilet' after visit from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu

3 October 2024, 19:10

Boris Johnson has claimed a bugging device was found in his bathroom after a visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Writing in his new book, Johnson claimed the bugging device was found in his bathroom when he was foreign secretary.

Mr Johnson alleged that his security team had made the discovery when they did a sweep of the toilets after the Israeli premier had used them during a meeting in 2017.

Writing in his memoir, titled "Unleashed", the former Tory MP said Mr Netanyahu had excused himself during talks at his old office to use the washroom, described as "a secret annex... a bit like the gents in a posh London club."

Mr Johnson said: "Thither Bibi repaired for a while, and it may or may not be a coincidence but I am told that later, when they were doing a regular sweep for bugs, they found a listening device in the thunderbox."

Mr Johnson did not confirm if the UK government confronted Israel about this alleged listening device. It comes after the former PM claimed a secret plot was devised to invade Holland and seize Covid vaccines.

The former PM said he drew up plans for British special forces to step in after "futile" negotiations with EU chiefs over the release of five million vaccines.

Writing in his new memoir Mr Johnson says he intended to take matters into his own hands when supplies were "kidnapped" by Brussels bureaucrats in a warehouse in Leiden.

He convened a meeting of senior military officials in March 2021 to discuss the plans.

The extract says the deputy chief of the defence staff, Lieutenant General Doug Chalmers, told the PM the plan was "certainly feasible", using rigid inflatable boats to navigate Dutch canals.

"They would then rendezvous at the ­target; enter; secure the ­hostage goods, exfiltrate using an articulated lorry, and make their way to the Channel ports," Mr Johnson writes.

But the senior officer said it would not be possible to do this undetected, with lockdowns meaning the authorities might observe the raid, meaning the UK would "have to explain why we are effectively invading a long-standing Nato ally".

It was later concluded that the idea was "nuts".