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Spy conjurers

Spying and deceit go hand in hand - so much so that British Intelligence, the CIA, and Mossad put magicians and illusionists on their payroll to trick enemies. It may be hocus pocus, but you’ll be spellbound by these spy tricks - from fake tanks to ‘hiding’ the Suez Canal!

ABRACADABRA

The CIA’s magic manual

At a critical stage of the 1950’s Cold War, the CIA paid magician John Mulholland $3,000 to write a top-secret guide: The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception. All copies were supposedly destroyed in the ‘70s, but the manual later resurfaced - as if by magic - revealing CIA deception strategies, tips on poisoning, and many more dark arts.

SPY TRICKS 101

Mossad's sorcerer?

Uri Geller was revered for his spoon-bending sorcery, dramatic illusions, and magical stage shows, but less is known about his double life as a Mossad ‘psychic spy’. For years, Geller’s stunts were dismissed as trickery but declassified CIA documents indicate Geller may really have supernatural powers - or is it all just another hoax?

SECRET WEAPON

Operation Mistletoe

In one of Britain’s most bizarre wartime missions, spies tapped high-profile sorcerer Cecil Williamson to stage a ‘black propaganda’ assault on Nazi leaders obsessed with the occult. Williamson’s job was to convince the Führer’s followers that British witches and warlocks were conspiring against them. 

PROPAGANDA

Psychic spies

As head of the US Department of Defense’s STARGATE program, Dr. Edwin May’s job was to prove the existence of psychic phenomena then use it against America's enemies - but tinkering with unexplained mental phenomena could conjure up its own hidden dangers.

MIND CONTROL

Fake news

The truth about fake news is that it’s been used by world leaders, royalty, dictators, and influencers to manipulate crowds long before the dawn of social media. From 14th-century blood libel to the 1920's Zinoviev letter and today’s spin doctors, find out how we are being duped. 

DECEPTIVE INFLUENCERS

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