In Dubai Hit Case, Interpol Seeks Arrest of 16 More Suspects
The international police agency Interpol on Monday issued arrest notices for an additional 16 suspects over the assassination of a Hamas operative in Dubai earlier this year.
Interpol last month added to its most wanted list 11 suspected assassins allegedly responsible for killing Hamas strongman Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in his Dubai hotel in January.
The individuals were tagged with “Red Notices,” according to the Interpol’s official website. This brings the total of Red Notices Interpol has issued in the case to 27.
A Red Notice is intended to help police identify or locate individuals with a view to their arrest and extradition. It is not an international arrest warrant, but it has been recogniaed in a number of countries as having the legal value to serve as a basis for provisional arrest.
In addition, Interpol said it was joining a Dubai-based international task force investigating al-Mabhouh’s murder.
The creation of the task force and the publication of the new Red Notices came as information provided by authorities in Dubai confirmed the international links and the large number of people involved in the assassination.
It also confirmed the role of two teams of individuals identified by the Dubai police as being linked to al-Mabhouh’s murder, Interpol said.
According to the Dubai police investigation, the first team allegedly carried out the killing, while a second team, the members of which are now also subject of Red Notices, is believed to have closely watched al-Mabhouh’s movements from the moment he landed at Dubai airport until his murder.
Interpol secretary general Ronald K. Noble said that the “thorough” investigation by Dubai police had established “clear” links through passport records and video surveillance of individuals and groups, as well as through DNA analysis, witness interviews and hotel, credit card, phone and transport records.
Mabhouh was found suffocated to death in his Dubai hotel room on January 20. Dubai police strongly suspect the Israeli intelligence service Mossad of carrying out the killing.
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