Australian government has asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate pissible Israel passport fraud

First 13 of 13 paragraphs shown Stephen Smith, Perth, ALP, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs said he had asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate the possible fraudulent use of passports by Israel in the assassination of senior Hamas figure Mahmud al- Mabhouh. Three Australian passports appear to have been duplicated or altered.
Murdered in a hotel room in Dubai: On 16 February, police in Dubai announced that falsified passports from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Germany had been used in connection with the case. Three Australian names were used; Joshua Bruce, Adam Korman and Nicole McCabe.
Timeline of events:
- 22 February, Dubai authorities approached Australian officials Thursday, in the United Arab Emirates with an inquiry about two Australian passports in possible connection with the murder.
- 23 February, Dubai authorities confirmed to Australian officials that they were investigating the use of a total of three Australian passports in connection with the murder. Since that time, Australian officials have been fully cooperating with the Dubai authorities in their investigations.
- Wednesday, 24 February, Smith said he spoke with United Arab Emirates foreign minister His Highness Sheikh Abdullah.
Smith's polite outrage: 'I advised him that the Australian government was taking the matter extremely seriously and that the Australian government, its officials and its agencies would continue to fully cooperate with Dubai authorities'.
Dubai investigating three people: Overnight, Dubai authorities announced publicly that, in connection with the murder, they were investigating three people who had used Australian passports. The passports concerned were under the names of Joshua Bruce, Adam Korman and Nicole McCabe. The Australian government is very gravely concerned that these Australian passports appear to have been used fraudulently.
Australian Federal Police and ASIO, full investigation: Smith said 'The Australian government has asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate the possible fraudulent use of these passports. The Australian Federal Police will conduct a full investigation with the assistance of the Australian Passport Office and other relevant agencies, including the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, ASIO.
- The Australian Federal Police will continue to cooperate closely with authorities in Dubai in the investigation into the murder of al-Mabhouh. Preliminary analysis by the Australian Federal Police, together with the Australian Passport Office, shows that the three Australian passports appear to have been duplicated or altered.
Passport factory: 't this stage, Australian officials have no information to suggest the three Australian passport holders were involved in any way other than as victims of passport or identity fraud. The Australian government condemns in the strongest possible terms the misuse and the abuse of Australian passports.
Australia outsmarted on passports: "Australia is a recognised leader in the development and implementation of secure passport technology. Regrettably, no document is ever completely safe from people who try to tamper with it for criminal or illegal purposes'. =
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