Mystery over killing of Hamas man deepens

The announcement brings to 26 the total number of people, six of them women, suspected of involvement in Mahmoud al-Mabhouh’s assassination, which is widely believed to have been the work of Israel’s secret service, the Mossad. Israel has flatly refused to comment.

The six new British names are Mark Daniel Sklar, Roy Allan Cannon, Daniel Marc Schnur, Philip Carr, Stephen Keith Drake and Gabriella Barney. A Foreign Office spokesman said the government believed their passport details had been used fraudulently. A total of 12 British passport holders have now been named.

Sklar’s mother said: “He was very shocked. It’s a bit worrying.” Six Irish passports, three French, three Australian and one German document were also used. Adam Korman, one of three Australians whose passport details were announced, told the Ynet website: “I am shocked, it’s identity theft – simply unbelievable.”
The Haaretz newspaper reported that 10 of the 15 new suspects share the names of Israelis who hold dual citizenship.

Like all the others, Korman said he had not visited Dubai but did travel around the world and regularly flew back to Australia. “I have been frightened and shocked since receiving the news,” said the Australian-born 34-year-old who lives and works in Tel Aviv, where he sells musical instruments. “It’s irresponsible and a violation of human and individual rights to do such a thing.”

The authorities in the Emirate said the newly named suspects were believed to have provided logistical support for the assassination of the Palestinian official. Many used credit cards that were issued by the same small US bank, and flew in from Zurich, Paris, Rome and Frankfurt.

“This was to take … deception to its ­highest level and guarantee the avoidance of any security supervision or observation of their movements,” the Dubai government said.

Several of the suspects flew to Hong Kong and two left the emirate by boat for Iran. Members of the team visited Dubai on at least four occasions before the murder, presumably for reconnaissance.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 10 has reported that Syrian authorities have arrested an associate of Mabhouh named as Mohammed Nasser over suspected involvement in his killing. Nasser was reportedly in Dubai before the murder and was familiar with Mabhouh’s schedule and whereabouts. Dubai’s police chief, Dahi Khalfan al-Tamim, has said he believes the operation could not have been carried out without inside information on the victim’s travel plans.

The Dubai authorities have been using immigration records and CCTV images of the suspects to try to piece together what happened in the hours before Mabhouh’s murder on 19 January.