Adam Arnold,
Sky News Online

Gordon Brown has called for a full investigation into how fraudulent British passports were allegedly used by the killers of a Hamas commander in Dubai.

Police there have named 11 Europeans, including six Britons and three Irish nationals, suspected of killing Mahmoud al Mabhouh in a luxury hotel last month.

But the Foreign Office said the UK passports involved were “fraudulent” – and officials in Dublin said they had “issued no passports” in the names of three people using Irish identities.

Details such as the names, numbers and dates of birth on the suspect passports matched the originals. However, the photographs and signatures differed.

The 11 suspects in the investigation into the assassination

Prime Minister Mr Brown said: “We are looking at this at this very moment.”

“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,” he told London’s LBC Radio.

“The evidence has got to be assembled about what has actually happened and how it happened and why it happened.

“And it is necessary for us to accumulate that evidence before we can make statements.”

Facebook picture of Melvyn Adam Mildiner (left) and picture of suspect (right).

Meanwhile, three people whose British passport details were apparently used by the killers have expressed their shock at being named among the suspects.

Israel-based Melvyn Adam Mildiner, 31, said he had never been to Dubai, adding he was “angry, upset and scared”.

Kent-born Paul Keeley, 42, a builder who has lived on a Kibbutz in northern Israel for the past 15 years, said he had not left Israel for two years.

He said: “I am in shock. What do you mean what do I think about it? I am in shock. I think I need to check with the consul. What is going on here?”

And a third Briton, Stephen Hodes, said: “I do not know who is behind this. I am simply scared. These are very powerful organisations.”

Hamas has pointed the finger at Israel, blaming the country’s secret service Mossad for carrying out the hit.

And Dubai’s police chief Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim said it was possible that “leaders of certain countries gave orders to their intelligence agents to kill” the Hamas militant.

Picture of Hamas commander Mahmoud al Mabhouh

The hit squad allegedly flew into Dubai on separate planes and booked into different hotels wearing wigs and fake beards to disguise their appearances.

At least two of the alleged gang watched the Hamas commander check-in to the hotel and booked a nearby room, it was claimed.

Around five hours after setting foot in the emirate, al Mabhouh was ambushed and killed. It is not known if he opened the door to his alleged killers himself.

All of the suspects left the United Arab Emirates within 19 hours of their arrivals, it was also claimed.

Hamas officials have not yet said why their commander was in Dubai, amid suggestions he was on his way to Iran.