One of Prince Harry’s closest friends has been pulled over by security officials over suspicion he was working as a mercenary in war-torn Libya.
Former cavalry officer Jack Mann was questioned by Maltese police, who questioned his claim that he was on a mission to provide medical training.
Maltese police confirmed to the Mail that they “have spoken to the passengers to clarify the planned activities in Libya” and that no further action has been taken.
According to local reports, Mr Mann was stopped just before he was due to board a private jet bound for the North African country.
Jack Mann, right, became friends with Prince Harry, left, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Pictured: Harry and Mr Mann at a polo match at Ascot in 2015
Mr Mann recently starred in the fourth episode of the Sussexes’ Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan. Pictured: Harry and Mr Mann at a polo match at Ascot in 2015
Libya has been torn apart by conflict since the 2011 Arab Spring and the death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi later this year.
The Foreign Office advises British citizens not to travel there. There are also sanctions restricting the activities of British companies in Libya.
Thousands have died in fighting between factions trying to control the country, which has the world’s ninth-largest oil reserves.
Islamic State terrorists occupy more remote areas of Libya, and hundreds of Russian mercenaries from the “Wagner Group” have been spotted there. It was also believed that British Special Forces troops operated there at times.
Mr Mann was photographed amidst a group of wealthy and privileged men who make up Harry’s inner circle. Pictured: The Duke of Sussex, centre, with Jack Mann, second right, and other friends at Harry’s wedding in May 2018
Mr Mann recently starred in the fourth episode of the Sussexes’ Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan, which included previously unreleased images of the couple celebrating at their wedding reception.
Mr Mann, who befriended the prince at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, was photographed amidst a group of wealthy and privileged men who form Harry’s inner circle. They partied late into the night at Frogmore House near Windsor Castle with celebrities including Elton John and Serena Williams.
Prince Harry’s boyfriend is also the son of SAS officer-turned-mercenary Simon Mann, whose alleged attempt to overthrow the Equatorial Guinean government in 2004 resulted in a five-year prison sentence.
Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, admitted to being an unknowing financier behind the attempted coup. He said he was misled by the organizers.
Prince Harry’s boyfriend is also the son of SAS officer-turned-mercenary Simon Mann, whose alleged attempt to overthrow the Equatorial Guinean government in 2004 resulted in a five-year prison sentence
Jack Mann, who served with the British Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, founded the private security company Alma Risk in 2015. He previously worked in Libya as Country Manager for another UK security company, Aegis Defense Services.
Alma Risk’s website says the company offers “a diverse range of security and risk management services for corporate and individual clients.”
Mann and his colleagues, including other former British soldiers, were stopped at an airport on the Mediterranean island, 223 miles north of Libya.
A Maltese source told the Mail: “On December 10, they were prevented from boarding a private jet on suspicion of being mercenaries. The flight crew suspected their claims of going to Libya to provide medical training were false.’
Last night Mr Mann said: “We did not continue the journey from Malta [to Libya] on the advice of the Maltese Immigration Service to correct our papers before continuing our journey. The issue was resolved within five days and the United Nations confirmed there was no sanctions violation. you [Alma Risk] are free to do the training.
“I have previously visited Libya in my capacity as a private security adviser. Any suggestion that this project involves “mercenaries” is categorically false and would harm me personally and professionally.”
The Mail has learned that the Libyan papers carried by Mann and his British colleagues have been investigated by the authorities. According to senior Maltese sources, their documents, provided to them by their hosts in Libya, state that the private security team would visit the country to provide Libyan special forces with “advanced anti-terrorist training”.
The Maltese asked the United Nations for clarification. Any military training would have violated UN arms and training embargoes.
Mr Mann’s party insisted they were only visiting Libya to offer medical training, which UN guidelines allow.
The United Nations launched a brief investigation at the behest of the Maltese and further documentation was provided by Mr Mann’s Libyan hosts, who confirmed they were visiting the country to offer medical training.
A Maltese source said: “The Libyans’ paperwork was poorly drafted. It seemed like they were breaking the rules. We later discovered that this was not the case and the documents were misleading.’