BBC Asian Network reporter Anna Cunningham explains how she secured the first recorded interview with agents working at MI5's London headquarters.

The spies agreed to talk at MI5's imposing London headquarters

My mobile phone rang as I was driving up the motorway. "Hello. This is MI5. Can you talk?" said a female voice at the other end of the line.

"Yes," I said, stammering, before adding quickly that I was on my own - and hands free.

The call came out of the blue. A couple of months beforehand, I had made a call to a government contact to see if there was any chance of shedding light on one of the darkest corners of modern life - the security services.

They laughed. But I asked that they at least think about it. To be honest, I had long given up hope of anyone returning my call.

The security service - or MI5 as they're more commonly known - don't give interviews. Why would they? They're spies.

But something must have struck a chord in the corridors of power. I knew I had good reasons to be asking to talk to them.

Heated discussion

The UK has introduced a raft of anti-terrorism legislation since the 11 September attacks in the US in 2001.

Many in the Muslim community believe such laws unfairly target them.

They were guarded initially but opened up more as the minutes passed. It was a fascinating insight into their motivations Anna Cunningham Spies like us

Media coverage of high-profile police operations like the botched raid in Forest Gate, east London, always generates heated discussion on the BBC Asian Network's discussion boards and phone-ins.

And not long before my call on the motorway, we carried a story where Islamic students groups claimed MI5 was targeting them on university campuses.

That set me thinking. Are MI5 really targeting British Muslims? It's no secret that since the 7 July attacks in London they have been looking to recruit more British Asians.

So, how successful have they been? And what do British Asian recruits actually feel about working in the current climate, where the key security threat comes from al-Qaeda and Islamic militants?

Discreet corner

The female voice hung up saying she'd be in touch. A series of e-mails later, I found myself standing in the lobby of a posh central London hotel.

They were prepared to talk. I had no idea what the contact looked like. But they recognised me from a photo on the BBC website.

A woman's voice on my mobile guided me to a discreet corner of the room.

The two women from MI5's recruitment department sat looking out on the room.

I sat with my back to it and was grilled for two hours about what I wanted to do.

The conversation stopped every time the waitress came over with the next round of over-priced lattes.

Afterwards, I emerged into the late autumn sunshine feeling as if I'd been interrogated, but wired on caffeine and adrenaline.

Voices disguised

The interview was on, but certain subjects were off-limits for national security reasons.

The BBC would retain full editorial control over what was broadcast, but would have to disguise the officers' voices.

MI5 needs to blend into areas which might breed potential bombers

A month later, I stepped inside Thames House, MI5's headquarters on the banks of the River Thames. It's a fairly imposing building.

I can't describe the interior, but I can say that while the Spooks on the BBC tend to work in moody shadows, in real life the agents work with the lights full on.

There's a businesslike atmosphere and an impression that there's unlikely to be much chat about last night's TV at the water cooler.

People seemed to speak only when it was strictly necessary. Or maybe that's just because I was there.

Secret world

"Jayshree" and "Shazad" stood up as I walked in, introduced themselves before we sat down to start the interview over coffee and chocolate.

They were guarded initially but opened up more as the minutes passed. It was a fascinating insight into their motivations.

Both said they were comfortable in their secret world and adamant MI5 was not targeting Muslims.

I was told hundreds of journalists request interviews with MI5. I am the only one they said "yes" to for a recorded, on-the-record chat at Thames House. I've certainly asked why me? Why now?

Almost all publicly funded organisations worry about their ethnic profile. But surely there is more to it than that.

An organisation hunting potential bombers needs to be able to blend into the communities that might be breeding them.

Saying yes to the Asian Network clearly sends a very strong message to British Asians and perhaps to the many Muslims amongst our audience. MI5 says: "Your country needs you."