Obituary

Mystery of James Bond-style murder after commuter died when he was poked with poison-tipped umbrella 45 years ago

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The unresolved murder of Bulgarian defector Georgi Ivanov Markov in 1978 still baffles investigators to this day. Markov, who had fled Bulgaria and was living in London, died after being pricked by the tip of a poisoned umbrella while waiting for a bus on Waterloo Bridge.

Markov, a vocal critic of Bulgaria’s communist regime, had been enjoying life in the Western world before he was assassinated in a James Bond-style manner. The mysterious incident attracted huge media attention at the time, with Scotland Yard launching an extensive investigation into his death.

An autopsy revealed a small pellet in Markov’s thigh, which was believed to contain ricin poison. Ricin is a deadly substance extracted from castor beans. Despite suspicions surrounding an alleged Communist agent named Francesco Gullino, nicknamed “Piccadilly”, no one has ever been brought to justice for Markov’s murder.

Gullino, who denied any involvement in the assassination, was later found dead in his apartment in Austria shortly after being questioned by authorities. The case remains shrouded in mystery, with no new updates on the investigation as of June 2024.

The unresolved murder of Georgi Markov continues to intrigue investigators and the public alike, leaving many wondering if the full truth behind his assassination will ever come to light.

Head of content and Editor-at-large at Ghanafuo.com – Dickson Ofori Siaw is a blunt writer who loves to make his readers see "the other perspectives of a news story". Follow me on Twitter @kwadwo_dost