Dubai: Britain is expelling an Israeli diplomat following the use of forged UK passports in the killing of senior Hamas commander Mahmoud Al Mabhouh in Dubai earlier this year.
Announcing the expulsion, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the House of Commons in a televised address that the UK’s travel advice to Israel has been amended, to include potential threats to travel to and in the country. "I have asked that a member of the embassy of Israel be withdrawn from the UK as a result of this affair, and this is taking place," Miliband told lawmakers.
Following a report by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), which will not be released in full for "legal" reasons, according to the Foreign Secretary, it is clear that the 12 British passport holders were "innocent victims of identity theft". Miliband continued that the UK had "no advanced knowledge of what happened in Dubai, or of the killing", saying that the passports used were copied from genuine British passports.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the expelled official was Israeli spy agency Mossad's representative at the Israel embassy in London. Miliband did not identify the official. Miliband also told lawmakers that the British investigation found there are "compelling reasons to believe that Israel was responsible".
Dubai accuses Mossad of the killing of Al Mabhouh. It has identified at least 27 suspects of an alleged hit squad who used forged European and Australian passports. Israel has declined to confirm or deny whether it was involved.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s office said Israel’s ambassador to Britain, Ron Prosor, met with Peter Ricketts, Britain's senior diplomat, to discuss the case Monday. Israel's Foreign Ministry declined to provide details of the talks. Israel’s embassy in London said Miliband had cancelled his appearance at a reception Tuesday to mark the refurbishment of the Israeli embassy.
A French judicial official, meanwhile, said the Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the alleged use of four fake French passports in the Dubai case. The unnamed official told agencies that the probe was for suspected forgery and identity theft.
