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UK presses Israel on Dubai murder UK presses Israel on Dubai murder
(about 1 hour later)
The British and Irish governments have called in their Israeli ambassadors over the use of fake passports by the alleged killers of a Hamas commander.The British and Irish governments have called in their Israeli ambassadors over the use of fake passports by the alleged killers of a Hamas commander.
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. Six British passports were fraudulent.
The Dubai police chief has said he is 99% sure Israel is involved in the killing, according to a UAE newspaper.
Israel has said there is no proof its secret service, Mossad, was involved.Israel has said there is no proof its secret service, Mossad, was involved.
The Tories have called for the Foreign Office to say when it first knew about the fake passport claims, after reports suggested it had known two weeks ago. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has ordered an inquiry into the passports, which bear the names of six British-Israelis who are not the men pictured.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has ordered an inquiry into the passports used by Mr Mabhouh's alleged killers, which bear the names of six British-Israelis who are not the men pictured. Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has 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."
But in an Abu Dhabi-based English-language paper, General Dahi Khalfan is quoted as saying: "It is 99%, if not 100% that Mossad is standing behind the murder."
'Full investigation''Full investigation'
Israeli ambassador Ron Prosor is going to the Foreign OfficeIsraeli ambassador Ron Prosor is going to the Foreign Office
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "entirely possible" the British government had been alerted to the alleged use of British passports in January. Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor has arrived at the Foreign Office to meet Sir Peter Ricketts, head of the diplomatic service.
"There have been reports in the Gulf, including one in the Gulf News, right at the end of January, that the head of police in Dubai had contacted consulates and embassies for assistance with this investigation into the suspects.
"I would like to know when the government, when the prime minister, when the foreign secretary were informed about it and what action they decided to take then," he said.
Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor is due to meet Sir Peter Ricketts, head of the diplomatic service.
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.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. Conservative leader David Cameron said the Israeli ambassador should be asked "some pretty tough questions".
"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. Sir Menzies Campbell, former Liberal Democrat leader and member of the Commons foreign affairs committee, said he expected the Foreign Office to say "'well, now's your chance to tell us one way or another'."
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".
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague has called on the Foreign Office to confirm when it first knew about the fake passport claims.
The Foreign Office said it had received details of the British passports "a few hours before the press conference", but Mr Hague told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "entirely possible" the government had been alerted to the alleged use in January.
"There have been reports in the Gulf, including one in the Gulf News, right at the end of January, that the head of police in Dubai had contacted consulates and embassies for assistance with this investigation into the suspects," he said.
'Crisis'
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 Irish passports real numbers Analysis: Bumpy road for relations
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 confirmed photographs and signatures on the passports used in Dubai do not match those on passports issued by the UK.
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.
Mr 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 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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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. The Republic of Ireland government has said Irish passports used by three people believed to have been involved in killing a Hamas member had genuine numbers.
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. However, authorities said 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.Mr Mabhouh was murdered in his hotel room in Dubai.
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 policeCCTV of Hamas murder suspects released by Dubai police