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PM demands 'hit squad' ID inquiry PM demands 'hit squad' ID inquiry
(30 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has called for a "full investigation" into how fraudulent British passports were used by the alleged killers of a Hamas commander.Gordon Brown has called for a "full investigation" into how fraudulent British passports were used by the alleged killers of a Hamas commander.
The UK Foreign Office is investigating how passports bearing the names of six British-Israelis have been linked to Mahmoud al-Mabhouh's murder in Dubai.The UK Foreign Office is investigating how passports bearing the names of six British-Israelis have been linked to Mahmoud al-Mabhouh's murder in Dubai.
The Gulf state believes 11 "agents with European passports" killed him.The Gulf state believes 11 "agents with European passports" killed him.
The Tories have asked Foreign Secretary David Miliband what action he has taken to find out how UK passports were used.The Tories have asked Foreign Secretary David Miliband what action he has taken to find out how UK passports were used.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague has written to ask when the Foreign Office first knew suspects in the case had allegedly travelled to Dubai on British passports and what contacts Mr Miliband was making with the Israeli government. Shadow foreign secretary William Hague has written to ask when the Foreign Office first learned of suspicions about the passports and what contacts Mr Miliband was making with Israeli officials.
Mr Hague said the alleged passport forgery was "a matter of great concern, since it raises the possibility that this could happen in other cases, including acts of terrorism". 'Great concern'
'Violation of trust' Mr Hague said the alleged forgery was "a matter of great concern" and raised the possibility it could happen in cases involving terrorism.
"We need to know if the home secretary and foreign secretary are confident that existing mechanisms are sufficient to prevent further such abuses from happening," he added."We need to know if the home secretary and foreign secretary are confident that existing mechanisms are sufficient to prevent further such abuses from happening," he added.
Meanwhile, Israel says there is no proof that its security service Mossad had any involvement in the killing - despite suggestions this could be the case.Meanwhile, Israel says there is no proof that its security service Mossad had any involvement in the killing - despite suggestions this could be the case.
The UK prime minister told London's LBC 97.3 FM radio station: "We have to carry out a full investigation into this.The UK prime minister told London's LBC 97.3 FM radio station: "We have to carry out a full investigation into this.
"The evidence has to be assembled about what actually happened, about how it happened and why.
"The British passport is an important part of being British and we have to make sure everything is being done to protect it."
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. Pictures of '11 Europeans' Israel's 'covert killing' history No proof of Dubai hit - IsraelIt is possible another country masterminded the attack, designing it to look like a clumsy Mossad operation. Or maybe Israel co-operated with others. Pictures of '11 Europeans' Israel's 'covert killing' history No proof of Dubai hit - Israel
Dr Rosemary Hollis, a Middle East analyst from London's City University, said the development would "raise suspicions" about British travellers in general. "The evidence has to be assembled about what actually happened, about how it happened and why.
"Anyone carrying a British passport might conceivably be up to no good when visiting different parts of the Arab world," she said. "We have to make sure everything is being done to protect [the British passport]."
Earlier, former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell called for the Foreign Office to summon the Israeli ambassador. Dr Rosemary Hollis, a Middle East analyst from London's City University, said the development would "raise suspicions" generally that British travellers "might conceivably be up to no good".
Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell called for the Foreign Office to summon the Israeli ambassador.
If Mossad had used the forged passports to carry out the killing, it would be a "serious violation of trust between nations", he said.If Mossad had used the forged passports to carry out the killing, it would be a "serious violation of trust between nations", he said.
The Foreign Office said "no representations" had been made to the ambassador.The Foreign Office said "no representations" had been made to the ambassador.
Labour's Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Mike Gapes said the "sophisticated" assassination was either carried out by Israel "or someone trying to make sure it looks like the Israelis".Labour's Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Mike Gapes said the "sophisticated" assassination was either carried out by Israel "or someone trying to make sure it looks like the Israelis".
"Israel has... a policy of targeted assassinations," he said, adding its agents had previously used faked passports from friendly countries."Israel has... a policy of targeted assassinations," he said, adding its agents had previously used faked passports from friendly countries.
It had assured Britain in 1986 the practice would stop, Mr Gapes said.It had assured Britain in 1986 the practice would stop, Mr Gapes said.
But Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli 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 Israeli 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 Foreign Office believes the six British passports used were fraudulent and is investigating.
The men who share names with the suspects have dual British and Israeli citizenship.The men who share names with the suspects have dual British and Israeli citizenship.
The details are not correct. The date of birth is wrong. I've never been to Dubai. I went to bed with pneumonia and woke up a murderer British Israeli Melvyn Adam Mildiner
They are Melvyn Adam Mildiner, Paul John Keeley, James Leonard Clarke, Stephen Daniel Hodes, Michael Lawrence Barney and Jonathan Lewis Graham. They all deny involvement in the killing.They are Melvyn Adam Mildiner, Paul John Keeley, James Leonard Clarke, Stephen Daniel Hodes, Michael Lawrence Barney and Jonathan Lewis Graham. They all deny involvement in the killing.
The details of the suspects and their passport photos were released by officials in Dubai earlier this week.The details of the suspects and their passport photos were released by officials in Dubai earlier this week.
Salford-born Mr Hodes, 37, who lives in Israel, said he was "in shock". Salford-born Mr Hodes, 37, said he had not left Israel for two years and was "in shock".
"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 told Israeli television. "I don't know who's behind this. I am just scared, these are major forces," he told Israeli television.
A "shocked" Mr Barney, 54, told the Daily Mail he had undergone a quadruple heart bypass and was "not exactly spy material". Mr Mildiner, 31, told the Jerusalem Post: "Clearly it isn't me.
Mr Mildiner, 31, told the Jerusalem Post he was "angry" his identity had apparently been stolen. "The details are not correct. The date of birth is wrong. I went to bed with pneumonia and woke up a murderer," he said.
"Clearly it isn't me. It doesn't look like me," he said. The men's family names are not common in Israel, according to the BBC's Middle East correspondent, Katya Adler.
"The details are not correct. The date of birth is wrong. I've never been to Dubai. I went to bed with pneumonia and woke up a murderer," he said.
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.
"I immediately looked to make sure my passport was still there and it was," he said.
Their family names are not common in Israel, according to the BBC's Middle East correspondent, Katya Adler.
The Irish Republic's government says it has been unable to identify Irish-passport carrying suspects Gail Folliard, Evan Dennings and Kevin Daveron as "genuine Irish citizens".The Irish Republic's government says it has been unable to identify Irish-passport carrying suspects Gail Folliard, Evan Dennings and Kevin Daveron as "genuine Irish citizens".
Another two men, one using a French passport and one using a German passport, are also under suspicion. The French and German governments have also reportedly raised doubts over their identities.Another two men, one using a French passport and one using a German passport, are also under suspicion. The French and German governments have also reportedly raised doubts over their identities.

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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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 there 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. They paid for everything in cash and used various mobile phones. The suspects allegedly trailed Mr Mabhouh when he arrived in Dubai from Syria.
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CCTV of Hamas murder suspects released by Dubai policeCCTV of Hamas murder suspects released by Dubai police