ABU DHABI // At least one additional fake passport was used in the assassination of the Hamas commander Mahmoud al Mabhouh in Dubai in January, a senior diplomatic source confirmed yesterday.
A US press report said as many as five more suspects had been identified by Dubai Police, bringing the total alleged to have been involved in the operation to 32. The suspects were travelling on Australian, British and French passports, according to the report.
Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, the chief of Dubai Police, declined to comment on the report yesterday.
The additional suspects would mean at least five French and Australian passports each had been compromised, as well as at least 13 British.
Both Dubai Police and the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency have linked the assassination of the Hamas military leader in his hotel room to Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency.
Police linked the first 27 suspects, who entered the country in separate teams, with a core group suspected to be responsible for the killing itself, through CCTV footage, immigration records, DNA analysis, witness interviews and hotel, phone, transport and credit-card records.
Most of the compromised passports bore the names of Israeli residents.
It is not clear whether the additional suspects were only involved in surveillance, or were in the country for the operational stage of the hit.
The misuse of other nations' documents for the assassination has had serious diplomatic repercussions for Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.
Britain expelled a Mossad representative from the Israeli embassy in London and is reportedly blocking the official's return until Israel gives a formal guarantee that its passports will not be misused in future.
A representative of the British Foreign Office said officials were "investigating the report". The French Embassy said it could not comment on an "ongoing judicial inquiry", and the Australian Embassy also declined to comment.
lmorris@thenational.ae
* With reporting from Marten Youssef and Wafa Issa
Results
International 4, United States 1
Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods (US) beat Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann (International) 4 and 3.
Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im (International) beat Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (US) 2 up.
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MWTC info
Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the country and all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
The specs
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Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish
Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
