Investigators into the death of an MI 6 code breaker, Gareth Williams, have ruled out the involvement of terrorists such as the IRA or Al Qaeda in his death.

The body of the 31-year-old man was found in a sports hold-all bag in a bath at his Pimlico home in London City. He had been stabbed repeatedly before being dumped in the bath up to two weeks ago. The authorities were alerted when his work colleagues became concerned about his whereabouts.

Police, at Scotland Yard, though they have ruled out terrorists, have not ruled out the possibility that William's killer also works in the intelligence services.

Williams had been on secondment to the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), MI 6, working on code-breaking. He was described as a former child maths prodigy. He was due to return to GCHQ's Cheltenham base next week.

Bill Hughes, his uncle said "It was a terrible shock. He was quiet, unassuming. When he came home he’d be on his bicycle riding around the lanes of Anglesey.

“We knew he was working in London, but he’d never talk about his work and the family knew not to ask."

In 2000 he had graduated with first class honors in maths at Cambridge. He earned a position on a distinguished masters course in St. Catherine's College, Cambridge however, he never completed the course.

Police are now concentrating their investigations on the private life of the intensely private man.