<p><br /> The body of a suspected British spy could have been left undiscovered for up to a fortnight.<br /> </p><p><br /> Detectives are now investigating the death of a man in his 30s, after he was found in a top-floor flat in Pimlico, central London.<br /> </p><p><br /> Officers came across a mobile phone and several SIM cards laid out nearby when they broke into the top-floor flat in Alderney Street.<br /> </p><p><br /> It is thought the corpse was stuffed into a bag and left in the bathroom.<br /> </p><p><br /> It is understood the man was employed as a communications officer at the GCHQ "listening post" in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.<br /> </p><p><br /> But he is believed to have been on secondment to the riverside headquarters at MI6, the Secret Intelligence Service, about half a mile from the flat.<br /> </p><p><br /> Police continue to scour the two-floor flat for evidence and cordons remained in place on the prestigious street where two former home secretaries live.<br /> </p><p><br /> Ex-Tory leader Michael Howard and Sir Leon Brittan are among a host of politicians and bankers who have homes there, residents said.<br /> </p><p><br /> Neighbour Laura Houghton said an "extremely friendly" man identifying himself as Gareth lived at the address at the centre of the murder inquiry.<br /> </p><p><br /> The 30-year-old secretary said: "I have spoken to him only once. I met him in the entrance hall of the set of flats because of a boring plant issue about a year ago.<br /> </p><p><br /> "He was extremely friendly and had a Welsh accent."<br /> </p><p><br /> Mrs Houghton added: "His windows were always shut and curtains were often closed. I could never tell if anyone was in.<br /> </p><p><br /> "It was strange that we never saw him come and go. I just assumed he worked away.<br /> </p><p><br /> "The first I heard of anything happening was when the police knocked on my door and asked me if I had heard anything happening. I told them the walls were so thick that I couldn't hear a thing."<br /> </p><p><br /> Eileen Booth, 73, who lives opposite, said detectives told her the murder may have taken place two weeks ago.<br /> </p><p><br /> She said: "A few years ago, I would definitely have known who it was that had been killed. But nobody knows each other these days."<br /> </p><p><br /> Scotland Yard has launched a murder investigation, led by detectives from its Homicide and Serious Crime Command wing.<br /> </p><p><br /> A spokesman said the body was yet to be formally identified and a post-mortem examination would be taking place.<br /> </p>
