Well, I read the story and most seem to think it bears the hallmarks of professional killers and possibly sponsored by a well organised group or state. As it stands, most hands are pointing to Israel's mossad. Have a read in the link, it is almost like a movie-type of assassination - Fake passport, spotters, cash only etc.

If the Israeli are really behind this, I think they have cemented their reputation as one of the most organised spy agent in the world. If I am Hamas, I won't want to deal with cold blooded killers like this.

Mahmoud al-Mabhouh took no notice of the two men who joined him in the lift of his hotel in Dubai during the short ride to the second floor on the afternoon of January 20.

One was short and portly with a moustache, the other tall. Dressed in sports gear and carrying tennis rackets, they looked like any other European tourists visiting the Gulf state for some winter sun.

He did not realise that the two men were part of an 11-strong team that had come to kill him. In just over five hours he would be dead.

Stepping out of the lift, al-Mabhouh was escorted to room 230 by a member of staff at the Al Bustan Rotana hotel, near Dubai airport. Unnoticed, the taller man followed him down the corridor, clocking his room number and that of the room opposite, 237. In the hours that followed, room 237 became the staging post for the audacious murder of the senior Hamas official.


Within an hour of al-Mabhouh checking in his killers had established that room 237 was unoccupied and moved in across the hall. By that evening seven of the team were gathered in the room, waiting for their opportunity.

The killers had lain in wait for al-Mabhouh, whom Hamas admits was involved in the killing of two Israeli soldiers in 1989, since the previous night. Flying in from Paris, Frankfurt, Rome and Zurich, the team of ten men and one woman arrived within three hours of each other. The alleged mastermind of the operation, a Frenchman using the name Peter Elvinger, was the last to arrive at 2.30am on January 19. The team dispersed for the night to hotels near the airport and to the Al Bustan Rotana.

The following morning, several members of the team including Elvinger and the Irish woman, whose passport bore the name Gail Folliard, met at a shopping centre to discuss final preparations for the murder. Nothing was left to chance.

Security footage of the killers’ movements during the afternoon, released by police in Dubai yesterday, underlines the professionalism of the operation. The group switched hotels several times and wore disguises including false beards and wigs, while surveillance teams rotated in pairs through the hotel lobby, never hanging around for too long and paying for everything in cash.

Folliard and another member of the party carrying an Irish passport in the name of Kevin Daveron were operating as spotters on the second floor of the hotel when the murder was committed. Both switched hotels that afternoon and dressed smartly to pose as hotel staff. The bald Daveron donned a dark wig and glasses, while Folliard appears to have removed a blonde wig to reveal dark hair.

Throughout the operation, none of the suspects made a direct call to any another. However, Dubai police traced a high volume of calls and text messages between three phones carried by the assassins and four numbers in Austria where a command centre had apparently been established.

To co-ordinate their movements on the ground, the team used discreet, sophisticated short-range communication devices as they tracked their victim.

Al-Mabhouh touched down in Dubai at around 3pm from Damascus to arrange a shipment of weapons to Gaza. Hamas has not explained why one of its senior commanders, a marked man with several assassination attempts against him already, should have arrived alone without any security.

Clearly, though, his mission was compromised long before his arrival in Dubai. The assassination team were waiting for him at the terminal. CCTV footage shows al-Mabhouh passing within metres of one of his killers. As the Hamas commander approaches the taxi rank outside the terminal, a spotter from the team can be seen sidling into shot behind him, speaking on a mobile phone to confirm the Palestinian’s arrival.

Al-Mabhouh checked into the Al Bustan Rotana at 3.25pm with the surveillance team in close attendance. After they followed him to his room, a call was made and Elsinger booked room 237 from the business suite of another hotel. With the trap set, he then booked a flight to Munich via Qatar at 7.30pm that evening, an hour before the killing.

Security footage gives a macabre inevitability to the hours that followed. When al-Mabhouh made a short visit out of the hotel, apparently to meet a contact, the killers moved swiftly into place. Four burly men arrived at room 237.

Whether through good fortune or design, no security camera covered the door to al-Mabhouh’s room and there is no footage of how the team gained entry to the room. Hotel records show that at 8pm an attempt was made to re-programme the lock to his door and Daveron, waiting in the second floor lobby, is seen to distract a hotel guest who appears from the second floor lifts for a few vital seconds to give the killers time to gain access.

When al-Mabhouh returned to the hotel at 8.24pm his killers were in place. Police believe that he was asphyxiated. By 8.46pm, less than 20 minutes after their victim entered the hotel, the four killers are shown leaving the second floor, followed closely by their spotters in room 237. The surveillance team in the hotel lobby also disbands.

Less than two hours later Daveron and Folliard are shown boarding a flight to Paris. Others took flights to Hong Kong and South Africa before doubling back to Europe.

Al-Mabhouh’s body was not found until 1.30pm the following afternoon. His room showed no signs of forced entry. The cause of death was initially believed to be an increase of blood pressure in the brain.

The murder was only uncovered days later, when local security services were told who the victim was. Al-Mabhouh had also been travelling on a false passport.

As an international manhunt began for the 11 suspects yesterday, one particular anomaly in the case remained. Folliard is the only woman named so far, but footage of the final surveillance shows a second woman arriving at the hotel accompanied by a man in a Panama hat and a beard. It is not known whether this woman is one of two Palestinians arrested in Dubai last week in connection with the murder.

As the hunt for the killers begins in earnest and the finger is pointed at Mossad, room 230 remains empty. “Closed for emergency repairs”

There are many other sources reporting the same story, please have a look and let me know what you think. Assuming, Israel was behind this assassination, do you think it is appropriate? Given the fact that the victim was responsible for the killing od some Israeli army and other "terror offences"

i love mossad

I have no doubt about the Israeli complicity in this saga - they can do more than that. My belief is that whatever the Israel does against the Hamas is a typically an aggressive terrorism; and whatever Hamas does against Israel is a kind of fairly resistant terrorism. So always Israel must be considered as a 'giant guilty. The most surprising thing is the deliberate ignorance of America about the Israeli terrorism in the world. They attacked American USS liberty; they attacked American military installation in Egpyt. in 1954. (http://www.davidduke.com/general/israeli-terrorism-and-sept-11_13.html) JDL had even once arrested preparing another terrorist attack on American Muslim and some organizations; (http://www.mailarchive.com/antinato@topica.com/msg02464.html).

With all these Jewish terrorism Israel is still a freedom fighter in the eyes of American leaders; but terrorist in the eyes of American people and the rest of the world. Israel will continue perpetrating its act of political assassination and terrorism all over the world until we raise up against American injustice.

David Duke posted in his website that: "One news article reports “A special Knesset committee finds that “3,000 women are sold each year in Israel’s sex industry, in transactions with an annual volume of $1 billion.” Exploitation of sex workers includes imprisonment, and other forms of rank coercion.” (There has been recent speculation that Natalee Holloway may have been abducted and sold into sex slavery. If this did happen, Israel is a likely destination.)
The Israelis have no real friends. They coerce our politicians through their powerful AIPAC lobby and the threat of bad press from the Jewish-controlled media. All our problems in the Middle East can be traced back to Israel and their treatment of Palestinian natives. The Israelis have killed Americans. They have tricked the US into attacking Muslim nations based on false information. They have one of the biggest sex slavery rings in the world. They horribly abuse the natives of Palestine. Israel deserves no allies, least of all the United States" (http://www.davidduke.com/general/our-%e2%80%9cgreat-ally%e2%80%9d-israel_16530.html#more-16530)

MrPrsdent:

i love mossad

Really you? If really: why?

Abu-Safwan:

I have no doubt about the Israeli complicity in this saga - they can do more than that. My belief is that whatever the Israel does against the Hamas is a typically an aggressive terrorism; and whatever Hamas does against Israel is a kind of fairly resistant terrorism. So always Israel must be considered as a 'giant guilty. The most surprising thing is the deliberate ignorance of America about the Israeli terrorism in the world. They attacked American USS liberty; they attacked American military installation in Egpyt. in 1954. (http://www.davidduke.com/general/israeli-terrorism-and-sept-11_13.html) JDL had even once arrested preparing another terrorist attack on American Muslim and some organizations; (http://www.mailarchive.com/antinato@topica.com/msg02464.html).

In a debate, it is necessary to put aside emotions and debate with facts instead. If you noticed in my entire post, I never said they are responsible [Unlike the thread made by Jairzinho here : https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-399571.0.html ]

As it stands at the moment, it is all speculation and even Israeli authorities have issued a statement saying their is no single proof to link them to the attack. See link.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/309705,israel-denies-mossad-behind-hamas-assassination-in-dubai.html

Yet people like you have nothing but personal opinion and beliefs based that they do. Let me employ your logic for a minute. I guess seeing that your location says Kano and you post leans towards pro-Islam, it is okay to ASSUME that you are nothing but a cattle rearer almajiri? After all, it is my opinion and belief. You see, it do not look so good when the tables are turned around now or is it?

With all these Jewish terrorism Israel is still a freedom fighter in the eyes of American leaders; but terrorist in the eyes of American people and the rest of the world. Israel will continue perpetrating its act of political assassination and terrorism all over the world until we raise up against American injustice.

Let us assume for one second here that Mossad is behind the killings. I guess in your eyes it is not acceptable to hunt down and kill an enemy of the state? Read up on the phrase "enemy of the state" [pretty much self explanatory] and tell me if you feel it is okay to kill and not be expected to be killed?

David Duke posted in his website that: "One news article reports “A special Knesset committee finds that “3,000 women are sold each year in Israel’s intimacy industry, in transactions with an annual volume of $1 billion.” Exploitation of intimacy workers includes imprisonment, and other forms of rank coercion.” (There has been recent speculation that Natalee Holloway may have been abducted and sold into intimacy slavery. If this did happen, Israel is a likely destination.)
The Israelis have no real friends. They coerce our politicians through their powerful AIPAC lobby and the threat of bad press from the Jewish-controlled media. All our problems in the Middle East can be traced back to Israel and their treatment of Palestinian natives. The Israelis have killed Americans. They have tricked the US into attacking Muslim nations based on false information. They have one of the biggest intimacy slavery rings in the world. They horribly abuse the natives of Palestine. Israel deserves no allies, least of all the United States" (http://www.davidduke.com/general/our-%e2%80%9cgreat-ally%e2%80%9d-israel_16530.html#more-16530)

No offence, but your post lacks credibility. You quoted a WHITE SUPREMACIST to make a point. I don't know about you, but I am a black person and I will never quote the words of someone who hates my race, think he is better than my race etc in a debate. It will make such person very foolish indeed.

Israel is a terrorist state.


I do not understand how oppressed people can support Israel who are KILLING the palestanians.

Its not clear who was behind this assassination:

Israeli security officials said Wednesday they were convinced the Mossad was behind the assassination of a Hamas commander in Dubai and harshly criticized the spy agency for allegedly stealing the identities of its own citizens to carry out the hit.

Names released by Dubai matched seven people living in Israel, raising questions about why the agency would endanger its own people by using their passport data as cover for a secret death squad.

At the same time, some Israeli experts said the Dubai evidence pointed to a setup to falsely blame Israel.

Others expressed shock that their names were used. Paul John Keeley, a 43-year-old father of three, told Haaretz he was worried "that someone will try to harm us." Stephen Hodes told Israel Radio: "I'm simply afraid. These are powerful forces."

Rafi Eitan, a former Cabinet minister and Mossad agent who took part in the capture of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1960, speculated Israel's foes were trying to frame it by using the identities of Israelis.

"It means some foreign service, an enemy of Israel, wanted to taint Israel. It took the names of Israeli citizens, doctored the passports ,  and thus tainted us," Eitan said.

The revelations by Dubai, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel, raised many questions: Could someone be trying to make it look like the Mossad carried out the hit? Might Israel have wanted to leave behind a fingerprint to enhance the Mossad's mystique? Did Israel underestimate Dubai's policing abilities? Why would Israel risk exposing 11 agents by allowing them to be filmed by Dubai surveillance cameras, even if they were disguised?


Lawmaker Yisrael Hasson, a former deputy commander of Israel's Shin Bet internal security service, urged a meeting of the Israeli parliament's foreign affairs and defense committee to discuss the matter.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35435440/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/page/2/

Qs&As

Questions and answers: What do we know so far about the Dubai assassination?

Q. What exactly happened to Mahmoud al-Mabhouh?

A. When the Hamas militant arrived in Dubai, he may have believed he was there to meet an Iranian arms dealer. Six hours later, he was dead, assassinated after a sophisticated operation involving 18 people. The hit squad had arrived in Dubai the previous day. After tailing Mabhouh from the airport, CCTV footage shows two of the group entering a hotel lift with him; one then followed him to find out in which room he was staying. Shortly afterwards, another operative booked the room opposite for that night. When the target left his room, four men crossed the corridor to break in, while others stood guard in the lobby. Mabhouh returned at 8.24pm; police say he was asphyxiated soon after. His killers left the hotel about 20 minutes later.

Q. Who were the people behind the operation, and why were there so many?

A. One theory suggests that having lured Mabhouh to Dubai on the pretext of an arms sale, the hit squad had expected him to be accompanied by a security team, who would also need to be eliminated. The identities of the assassins remain a mystery. All the passports of the initial batch of 11 suspects have been declared fake. So far seven people living in Israel, including Britons, have said that their identities were stolen, adding fuel to theories that Mossad was behind the assassination. Yesterday the existence of seven more suspects emerged: of those, two are believed to be Palestinian and are in custody; the other five, one of them a woman, used EU passports.

Q. Why would Israel want Mabhouh dead?

A. The Palestinian had admitted to a role in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers in 1989 during the first Intifada, and still played a senior role in Hamas. There has been speculation that he was at the top of a "hit list" of militants believed to be dangerous to Israel. And while the Netanyahu government yesterday said there was no proof that Mossad was behind the assassination, it refused to refute the accusation, citing a "policy of ambiguity". Some commentators in Israel have called for the head of Mossad to resign. The counter-argument is that the Dubai operation appeared too ham-fisted to be the work of Mossad, and that it is instead the work of Israel's enemies seeking to discredit the Netanyahu government.

Q. If firm evidence emerges implicating Israel, what will the consequences be?

A. The potential for diplomatic fall-out is clear, with Gordon Brown demanding an inquiry yesterday into how British passports came to be used. There have been similar concerns voiced in Dublin and Paris. The Dubai authorities are inevitably furious at the idea of the country being used as a staging ground for assassinations. Even Vienna has been dragged in, with the hit squad using pre-paid Austrian mobile phone numbers. Israel is already feeling the international heat after the critical Goldstone report into its conduct during the Gaza war, and will not want its critics to have more ammunition.

Taken from: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/death-in-dubai-the-plot-thickens-1902987.html

It should be noted that these are not confirmed reports, but reports made on claims and possible known information I think.

This is the funniest and hard hitting post I have read on this issue for far!

C.G. Galloway wrote:

Hamas has no reservations or conscience in targeting civilians/noncombatants in their "war" against Israel. Their outrage at one of their senior militant criminal members being surgically taken out is laughable.

Assuming it was the Mossad, the only action I find objectionable was the use of an ally's passports. Next time, add some satire -- use Iranian passports. ;-)