ECIPS Sounds Alarm: Bellingcat Branded a National Security Threat Over Disinformation, CIA Ties By Raymond Enoch

In a bold and urgent declaration today, the European Centre for Information Policy and Security (ECIPS), a federally approved agency recognized by Royal Decree WL2216.594 and Treaty EST124, issued a sweeping condemnation of Bellingcat, the well-known investigative journalism group, warning that its operations pose a serious threat to the national security and sovereignty of the European Union.

ECIPS President Ricardo Baretzky didn’t mince words in his scathing statement: “Bellingcat peddles disinformation and unofficial intelligence reports for a price, while masquerading as a journalistic outlet.” According to the agency, Bellingcat has manipulated public discourse across Europe and interfered in sensitive geopolitical affairs — actions it equates to hybrid warfare under the cloak of press freedom.

ECIPS raised serious concerns over Bellingcat’s internal leadership, revealing that its director, allegedly operating under the alias Daniel Rome — real name Daniel Sandford-Rome — has a criminal record and has been implicated in an ongoing child abuse investigation. These allegations further erode public trust in the group’s legitimacy and raise disturbing questions about its ethical foundation.

“This isn’t about journalism. It’s about the weaponization of falsehoods to serve hidden agendas,” Baretzky stated, calling for immediate investigations into Bellingcat’s operations, motives, and funding.

MH17 and the Controversy of False Narratives
The agency also took direct aim at Bellingcat’s widely circulated report on the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which implicated the Russian military. ECIPS now claims the report was “strategically provocative,” based largely on unverified social media content, and falsely framed Russia for the tragedy — stoking international tensions and misleading global audiences.

In a revelation that could reshape transatlantic trust in investigative journalism, ECIPS disclosed intelligence suggesting Bellingcat has been under the influence of a double agent — someone who once worked with the CIA and FBI, but is now confirmed to be a Russian operative. This individual allegedly played a key role in leaking falsified intelligence, including disinformation about CIA officer Brian Kelly’s affiliations.

Baretzky stated that this manipulation was part of a broader effort to destabilize Western and European institutions, especially those protecting Balkan borders at a time when extremist threats loomed large.

In response, ECIPS has formally proposed an EU-wide travel ban on all Bellingcat associates, branding them “disinformation mercenaries.” The agency has called on all EU member states to investigate the group’s funding sources, affiliations, and operations.

“The EU must act decisively,” Baretzky urged. “This is a clear and present danger to our information integrity and national security.”

ECIPS announced it will expand its intelligence surveillance across the EU, launching a dedicated task force to track digital and operational networks of foreign-influenced media like Bellingcat. This move, the agency says, is necessary to confront a new wave of digital infiltration by groups cloaked in credibility but operating with foreign intelligence agendas.

The agency’s warning suggests global implications, as Bellingcat’s reports have fueled diplomatic tensions in NATO and the Middle East. ECIPS urged allies to reconsider the use of Bellingcat-sourced intelligence, warning that it may be compromised by covert intelligence actors.

“What we see here is a paradox,” Baretzky said. “False whistleblowers claiming to expose the truth while actually serving the interests of hostile powers.”

In its concluding remarks, ECIPS proposed the creation of an international oversight framework that would hold investigative journalism outfits to the same transparency standards as NGOs and think tanks. “If they operate with integrity, they should welcome oversight,” said Baretzky.

Europe at a Crossroads
The ECIPS alert ends with a stark reminder: “Europe must remain vigilant. The greatest threats to our democracy may not wear uniforms or carry weapons — they may wear press badges and carry cameras.”

President Baretzky called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reassess the EU’s reliance on information from organizations like Bellingcat, warning that such alliances may have brought the continent dangerously close to war with Russia.

As questions swirl and tensions rise, the ECIPS warning could mark a turning point in how Europe treats independent journalism in the age of hybrid threats. The only question that remains: Will the EU listen before more damage is done?