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UK presses Israel on Dubai murder | UK presses Israel on Dubai murder |
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The British government has called in the Israeli ambassador to discuss the use of fake UK passports by the alleged killers of a Hamas commander in Dubai. | The British government has called in the Israeli ambassador to discuss the use of fake UK passports by the alleged killers of a Hamas commander in Dubai. |
Gordon Brown has also ordered an inquiry into the passports, which bear the names of six British-Israelis who are not the men pictured. | Gordon Brown has also ordered an inquiry into the passports, which bear the names of six British-Israelis who are not the men pictured. |
Dubai police believe 11 "agents with European passports" killed Palestinian militant Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in January. | Dubai police believe 11 "agents with European passports" killed Palestinian militant Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in January. |
Israel said there was no evidence to link its secret service. | Israel said there was no evidence to link its secret service. |
Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, refused to issue any formal denial in line with a "policy of ambiguity" on security matters. | Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, refused to issue any formal denial in line with a "policy of ambiguity" on security matters. |
He 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." | He 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." |
'Full investigation' | 'Full investigation' |
It is expected that the Israeli Ambassador, Ron Prosor, will meet Sir Peter Ricketts, head of the diplomatic service, on Thursday. | |
Israel's ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Zion Evroni, said he had received a summons from the country's Department of Foreign Affairs and would be meeting Minister Michael Martin. | |
Sir Menzies Campbell, former Liberal Democrat leader and member of the Commons foreign affairs committee, said the ambassador had to be questioned. | Sir Menzies Campbell, former Liberal Democrat leader and member of the Commons foreign affairs committee, said the ambassador had to be questioned. |
"The one institution that does know whether Mossad was involved in this matter is the Israeli government and I expect that the senior civil servant in the Foreign Office will say 'well, now's your chance to tell us one way or another'," he told BBC's Newsnight. | "The one institution that does know whether Mossad was involved in this matter is the Israeli government and I expect that the senior civil servant in the Foreign Office will say 'well, now's your chance to tell us one way or another'," he told BBC's Newsnight. |
Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn has called for Mr Prosor to be expelled from the UK if he cannot provide "adequate assurances". | Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn has called for Mr Prosor to be expelled from the UK if he cannot provide "adequate assurances". |
The BBC's Middle East correspondent Jeremy Bowen said if there was proof Israel had used British passports "for some nefarious uses of its Mossad service - as they have in the past Canadian and New Zealand ones", then relations between the UK and Israel would be "in a crisis". | The BBC's Middle East correspondent Jeremy Bowen said if there was proof Israel had used British passports "for some nefarious uses of its Mossad service - as they have in the past Canadian and New Zealand ones", then relations between the UK and Israel would be "in a crisis". |
The Serious Organised Crime Agency has been asked to look into the fraudulent use of the passports. | The Serious Organised Crime Agency has been asked to look into the fraudulent use of the passports. |
I don't know who's behind this. I am just scared, these are major forces Stephen Daniel Hodes Pictures of '11 Europeans' Israel's 'covert killing' history No proof of Dubai hit - Israel | I don't know who's behind this. I am just scared, these are major forces Stephen Daniel Hodes Pictures of '11 Europeans' Israel's 'covert killing' history No proof of Dubai hit - Israel |
It has confirmed that photographs and signatures on the passports used in Dubai do not match those on passports issued by the UK. | It has confirmed that photographs and signatures on the passports used in Dubai do not match those on passports issued by the UK. |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "We have got to carry out a full investigation into this. The British passport is an important document that has got to be held with care." | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "We have got to carry out a full investigation into this. The British passport is an important document that has got to be held with care." |
The Foreign Office said the British embassy in Tel Aviv was ready to support those affected by the Hamas shooting case. | The Foreign Office said the British embassy in Tel Aviv was ready to support those affected by the Hamas shooting case. |
The men whose names appeared on the passports have dual British and Israeli citizenship. | The men whose names appeared on the passports have dual British and Israeli citizenship. |
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. |
Several of them have spoken of their shock at being implicated in the crime. | Several of them have spoken of their shock at being implicated in the crime. |
Salford-born Mr Hodes, 37, said he had not left Israel for two years and was "in shock". | Salford-born Mr Hodes, 37, said he had not left Israel for two years and was "in shock". |
"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. |
Hamas killingBACK{current} of {total}NEXT | Hamas killingBACK{current} of {total}NEXT |
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. |
Three of the other suspects used Irish passports. | Three of the other suspects used Irish passports. |
Authorities in the Irish Republic have confirmed that while the numbers were legitimate, they did not match records for the names which had been used - Gail Folliard, Evan Dennings and Kevin Daveron. | Authorities in the Irish Republic have confirmed that while the numbers were legitimate, they did not match records for the names which had been used - Gail Folliard, Evan Dennings and Kevin Daveron. |
Its Department of Foreign Affairs said officials were urgently trying to contact the three citizens who hold or have held passports with these numbers. | Its Department of Foreign Affairs said officials were urgently trying to contact the three citizens who hold or have held passports with these numbers. |
France and Germany have also reportedly raised doubts over the identities of two suspects who used a French and a German passport. | France and Germany have also reportedly raised doubts over the identities of two suspects who used a French and a German passport. |
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 there to buy weapons for the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas. | Reports have suggested he was there to buy weapons for the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas. |
Two Palestinian suspects were being questioned about the murder. Police said they had "fled to Jordan" after the killing and have not released their names. | Two Palestinian suspects were being questioned about the murder. Police said they had "fled to Jordan" after the killing and have not released 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. | 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 police | CCTV of Hamas murder suspects released by Dubai police |