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Britons shocked by assassin claim Britons shocked by assassin claim
(20 minutes later)
Israel-based UK citizens whose names were on passports an alleged hit squad used insist they had nothing to do with killing a Hamas commander in Dubai.Israel-based UK citizens whose names were on passports an alleged hit squad used insist they had nothing to do with killing a Hamas commander in Dubai.
Melvyn Mildiner said he "went to bed with pneumonia and woke up a murderer", and Paul Keeley denied involvement.Melvyn Mildiner said he "went to bed with pneumonia and woke up a murderer", and Paul Keeley denied involvement.
Dubai believes 11 "agents with European passports" killed Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.Dubai believes 11 "agents with European passports" killed Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.
UK passports used were said to be fake and Lib Dem MP Sir Menzies Campbell wants Israel to explain claims it was involved - it says there is no proof.UK passports used were said to be fake and Lib Dem MP Sir Menzies Campbell wants Israel to explain claims it was involved - it says there is no proof.
Sir Menzies called for the Israeli ambassador to be summoned to the Foreign Office immediately to offer an explanation.Sir Menzies called for the Israeli ambassador to be summoned to the Foreign Office immediately to offer an explanation.
"If the Israeli government was party to behaviour of this kind it would be a serious violation of trust between nations," he said."If the Israeli government was party to behaviour of this kind it would be a serious violation of trust between nations," he said.
Hugo Swire, chairman of the Conservative Middle East Council, said he wanted a "full investigation".Hugo Swire, chairman of the Conservative Middle East Council, said he wanted a "full investigation".
'Genuine citizens''Genuine citizens'
"I would hope the British government is looking into it and demanding of the intelligence services [in Israel and Dubai] what evidence they have one way or another.""I would hope the British government is looking into it and demanding of the intelligence services [in Israel and Dubai] what evidence they have one way or another."
ANALYSIS Katya Adler, BBC Middle East correspondent Israel is alive with rumour as to whether Israel's intelligence service, Mossad, murdered Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.ANALYSIS Katya Adler, BBC Middle East correspondent Israel is alive with rumour as to whether Israel's intelligence service, Mossad, murdered Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.
Mossad has used fraudulent foreign passports and stolen identities to carry out its missions in the past, provoking diplomatic rows with a number of friendly countries.Mossad has used fraudulent foreign passports and stolen identities to carry out its missions in the past, provoking diplomatic rows with a number of friendly countries.
Former Israeli secret service officer, Gad Shimron, says agents steal identities to escape tougher security checks. But would Mossad want to point the finger at innocent Israeli citizens?Former Israeli secret service officer, Gad Shimron, says agents steal identities to escape tougher security checks. But would Mossad want to point the finger at innocent Israeli citizens?
At least five of the names listed by Dubai match those of Israeli dual nationals.At least five of the names listed by Dubai match those of Israeli dual nationals.
Maybe Mossad thought this was a clear way, without making a public declaration, of letting the world know it organised the murder - thereby sending a warning to Israel's enemies abroad.Maybe Mossad thought this was a clear way, without making a public declaration, of letting the world know it organised the murder - thereby sending a warning to Israel's enemies abroad.
It is possible another country masterminded the attack, designing it to look like a clumsy Mossad operation. Or maybe Israel co-operated with others.It is possible another country masterminded the attack, designing it to look like a clumsy Mossad operation. Or maybe Israel co-operated with others.
But Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman told Army Radio: "There is no reason to think that it was the Israeli Mossad, and not some other intelligence service or country up to some mischief." But Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Army Radio: "There is no reason to think that it was the Israeli Mossad, and not some other intelligence service or country up to some mischief."
Israel had a "policy of ambiguity" on intelligence matters, he added.Israel had a "policy of ambiguity" on intelligence matters, he added.
The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it believed the passports used were fraudulent and had begun an investigation.The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it believed the passports used were fraudulent and had begun an investigation.
Other Britons in Israel who share names with the suspects are James Leonard Clarke, Stephen Daniel Hodes, Michael Lawrence Barney and Jonathan Lewis Graham. They all deny involvement in the killing.Other Britons in Israel who share names with the suspects are James Leonard Clarke, Stephen Daniel Hodes, Michael Lawrence Barney and Jonathan Lewis Graham. They all deny involvement in the killing.
Kent-born Mr Keeley, 42, a builder who has lived on a Kibbutz in northern Israel for the past 15 years, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper it was "all very worrying" but he had done nothing wrong. Mr Hodes, 37, who was born in Salford, but lives in Israel, told the BBC he was "in shock".
"When I first heard about this I immediately looked to make sure my passport was still there and it was," he said. "I don't know how they got my details, who took them. I haven't left the country, I think, for two years and I've never been to Dubai ever. I don't know who's behind this. I am just scared, these are major forces," he said.
"It has not been stolen so I don't know what on earth has happened." His wife, Gabriella, told the Daily Mail she had thought the use of her husband's identity had been a "joke" at first, but as details emerged it had begun to "seem less funny".
Mr Barney, 54, told the newspaper he had had a quadruple heart bypass and was "not exactly spy material".
Mr Mildiner, 31, told the Jerusalem Post he was "angry" that his identity had apparently been stolen.Mr Mildiner, 31, told the Jerusalem Post he was "angry" that his identity had apparently been stolen.
"First, clearly it isn't me. It doesn't look like me," he said. "The details are not correct. The date of birth is wrong. I've never been to Dubai. "First, clearly it isn't me. It doesn't look like me," he said. "The details are not correct. The date of birth is wrong. I've never been to Dubai. Someone, somewhere decided to use my identity for something."
"I went to bed with pneumonia and woke up a murderer," he said."I went to bed with pneumonia and woke up a murderer," he said.
Mr Barney, 54, told the Daily Mail he was "shocked", adding because he had had a quadruple heart bypass he was "not exactly spy material". Kent-born Mr Keeley, 42, a builder who has lived on a Kibbutz in northern Israel for the past 15 years, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper it was "all very worrying" but he had done nothing wrong.
Gabriella, the wife of Salford-born Mr Hodes, 37, who lives in Israel, told the newspaper she had thought the use of her husband's identity had been a "joke" at first, but as details emerged it had begun to "seem less funny".
Mr Graham, whom the Daily Mail said had been born in north London but now lived near Jerusalem, told the paper: "It's not me."
Someone, somewhere decided to use my identity for something Melvyn Mildiner Pictures of '11 Europeans' History of Israel's 'covert killing'Someone, somewhere decided to use my identity for something Melvyn Mildiner Pictures of '11 Europeans' History of Israel's 'covert killing'
The BBC and other media in Israel have spoken directly to the men or to their families. Their family names - Keeley, Hodes, Mildiner and Barney - are not common in Israel, reports the BBC's Middle East correspondent Katya Adler. "When I first heard about this I immediately looked to make sure my passport was still there and it was," he said.
"It has not been stolen so I don't know what on earth has happened."
Mr Graham, who the Daily Mail said was born in north London, but now lives near Jerusalem, told the paper: "It's not me."
The family names are not common in Israel, reports the BBC's Middle East correspondent Katya Adler.
The Irish suspects were named as Gail Folliard, Evan Dennings and Kevin Daveron.The Irish suspects were named as Gail Folliard, Evan Dennings and Kevin Daveron.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said: "We are unable to identify any of those three individuals as being genuine Irish citizens."On Tuesday, a spokesman for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said: "We are unable to identify any of those three individuals as being genuine Irish citizens."

Hamas killing

Police in Dubai have issued arrest warrants for 11 suspects they want to question about the killing of a senior Hamas official in Dubai. The suspects include six men travelling on false British passports.
Three other suspects, including one woman, were travelling on false Irish passports. Two further suspects had French and German papers. Dubai police say they appeared to be a professional hit-squad.
Dubai police say the suspects only spent a day in the country. Here two of them are seen arriving at a local shopping centre. Three others were filmed arriving at the same centre. The suspects did not make contact by phone.
Police allege that one of the suspects, pictured on the left pulling a trolley, went to a hotel to put on a disguise. He is seen entering a men's toilet and later left wearing a wig.
Their alleged victim, Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh is seen at the hotel reception, circled in red above. At the bottom of the image the head of one of the suspects can just be seen. As Mr Mabhouh leaves, the suspect follows.
Mr Mabhouh is followed into the lift by a number of the suspects, including two pictured here in tennis gear. It is thought he had been followed from Syria to Dubai where he wanted to buy weapons for Hamas.
When Mr Mabhouh leaves the lift, the police say he was followed by one of the suspects, who appeared to be trying to establish which room he was staying in. He was later killed in his room.
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Hamas killing

Police in Dubai have issued arrest warrants for 11 suspects they want to question about the killing of a senior Hamas official in Dubai. The suspects include six men travelling on false British passports.
Three other suspects, including one woman, were travelling on false Irish passports. Two further suspects had French and German papers. Dubai police say they appeared to be a professional hit-squad.
Dubai police say the suspects only spent a day in the country. Here two of them are seen arriving at a local shopping centre. Three others were filmed arriving at the same centre. The suspects did not make contact by phone.
Police allege that one of the suspects, pictured on the left pulling a trolley, went to a hotel to put on a disguise. He is seen entering a men's toilet and later left wearing a wig.
Their alleged victim, Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh is seen at the hotel reception, circled in red above. At the bottom of the image the head of one of the suspects can just be seen. As Mr Mabhouh leaves, the suspect follows.
Mr Mabhouh is followed into the lift by a number of the suspects, including two pictured here in tennis gear. It is thought he had been followed from Syria to Dubai where he wanted to buy weapons for Hamas.
When Mr Mabhouh leaves the lift, the police say he was followed by one of the suspects, who appeared to be trying to establish which room he was staying in. He was later killed in his room.
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Another two men, one using a French passport and one using a German passport, are also suspected of playing parts in the assassination.Another two men, one using a French passport and one using a German passport, are also suspected of playing parts in the assassination.
The French foreign ministry said it was "not able to confirm the nationality of this person", according to the AFP news agency.The French foreign ministry said it was "not able to confirm the nationality of this person", according to the AFP news agency.
German officials said the passport number was either incomplete or wrong, Associated Press reported. German officials said the passport number was either incomplete or wrong, the Associated Press news agency reported.
'Professional hit''Professional hit'
Mr Mabhouh was murdered in his hotel room in Dubai on 20 January.Mr Mabhouh was murdered in his hotel room in Dubai on 20 January.
Reports have suggested he was in Dubai to buy weapons for the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas. Hamas has accused Israeli agents of killing him.Reports have suggested he was in Dubai to buy weapons for the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas. Hamas has accused Israeli agents of killing him.
Two Palestinian suspects were being questioned about the murder. Police said they had "fled to Jordan" after the killing, without releasing their names.Two Palestinian suspects were being questioned about the murder. Police said they had "fled to Jordan" after the killing, without releasing their names.
Officials in Dubai, who have issued arrest warrants, said the team appeared to be a professional hit squad, probably sponsored by a foreign power.Officials in Dubai, who have issued arrest warrants, said the team appeared to be a professional hit squad, probably sponsored by a foreign power.
They released CCTV footage which they said showed some of the suspects in disguises, including wigs and false beards, in the hotel near Dubai's international airport.They released CCTV footage which they said showed some of the suspects in disguises, including wigs and false beards, in the hotel near Dubai's international airport.
The suspects allegedly trailed Mr Mabhouh when he arrived in Dubai from Syria, paid for everything in cash and used various mobile phones.The suspects allegedly trailed Mr Mabhouh when he arrived in Dubai from Syria, paid for everything in cash and used various mobile phones.
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CCTV of Hamas murder suspects released by Dubai policeCCTV of Hamas murder suspects released by Dubai police