The United Arab Emirates said Saturday it is seeking an explanation as to why Germany released Uri Brodsky, an alleged Israeli spy it believes is linked to the January killing of a Hamas leader in Dubai.

The assistant to the UAE's foreign minister for legal affairs, Abdurahim al-Awadhi, expressed "concern that Brodsky has been released on bail and granted the freedom to return to Israel while the case against him continues," according to a statement carried by the WAM official news agency.

A suspected spy released

A Cologne court on Friday released Brodsky, who stands accused of involvement in the killing of Mahmud al-Mabhuh, a military leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. Mabhuh was found on January 20, suffocated in his hotel room in Dubai.

Awadhi said his country "seeks assurances that Brodsky is in no way connected to the murder of Mahmud al-Mabhuh."

"As this may relate to a serious crime committed in Dubai, the UAE expects full and close cooperation from the German authorities and will continue to pursue the matter through diplomatic channels," he added.

Brodsky was extradited to Germany Thursday from Poland, on charges of procuring a forged German passport that authorities believe was used by a member of the hit squad that killed Mabhuh.

The squad, which Dubai police suspect was from Israel's Mossad spy agency, was found to have used 26 doctored foreign passports, which sparked international outrage. Citizens of several nations - including Germany, Ireland and France - had their identities stolen by the team.

Of the alleged 27 men and women involved in the killing, Brodsky was the only one caught.

Author: David Levitz (AP/AFP/dpa)

Editor: Kyle James