Dubai issues 16 more int'l warrants for Hamas murder suspects

A combo of identity photographs released by the Dubai police shows the 15 new suspects in last month's killing in the emirate of top Hamas militant Mahmud al-Mabhuh. Dubai police on Wednesday widened their search for the killers of a top Hamas militant in a luxury hotel, saying 15 new Western passport holders are now suspects, bring the total now sought to 26. (Xinhua/AFP, File Photo)
Dubai's public prosecutor has issued international arrest warrants for 16 more suspects involved in the killing of a top Hamas official in January, raising the total number of people on its wanted list to 27, the state news agency WAM reported Tuesday.

The issuance of the new warrants was based on international conventions, investigations conducted by Dubai's public prosecuting authority, and evidences collected and exposed by Dubai police, Attorney General Esam Humaidan was quoted as saying in a statement.

Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, a senior commander of Hamas military wing the Ezzedeen Al Qassam Brigades, was found dead in his hotel room on Jan. 20, a day after he arrived in Dubai.

The Hamas official was wanted by the Israeli government in connection with the kidnappings of two Israeli soldiers in 1989. Dubai police have said they are virtually certain that Israel's intelligence agency Mossad was behind the assassination, but Israel has said there was no hard proof that the country carried out the killing.

On Feb. 15, police said 11 European passport holders are suspected to have been involved in the killing of Al Mabhouh. Dubai's public prosecutor then issued international arrest warrants for them on charges of premeditated murder.

On Feb. 24, Dubai police released a list of 15 additional names and photos of people allegedly involved in the assassination. Four days later, one more suspect was added to the list of suspects, bringing the total identified suspects to 27.

Source: Xinhua

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