In 1991, private investigator Gary Murray decided to write a chapter for his book, Enemies of the State - an expose of the covert activities of the British security services - on a shadowy UK paramilitary unit called Group 13. The sole purpose of this ultra-secretive unit is believed to be state-sponsored assassination, but so little is known about its operations that Murray knew it would be a daunting task. However, as a former civilian undercover agent for the security services, he was resonably confident that he would succeed. He soon changed his mind.

One day, while he was gathering material for the chapter, Murray was forcibly dragged into the back of an unmarked van and had a gun thrust to his head. A voice told him it would be unwise for him to continue with his project. Sensibly, Murray took the warning seriously and decided to abandon his research into Group 13 altogether.

Group 13 is generally believed to have evolved from former SAS soldiers, security, and intelligence operatives who were once active in Northern Ireland during the mid-to-late 1970's when a labour government was still in power. The SAS had been sent to Northern Ireland in 1969 to perform covert operations against the IRA. To cover their deployment to such a politically sensitive area, the SAS chose the guise of 'training teams'. A succession of cover names were used over the next two years - such as the Military Reconnaissance Force, the 14th Intelligence Unit, and the Fourth Field Survey Troop, Royal Engineers (FFST).

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