By By Gemma Fox Feb 28, 2010 in Crime Dubai - The Hamas leader who was found dead in his hotel room last month was drugged and then suffocated to death say police in Dubai. The drug believed to have been used in this case is succinylcholine. It is a drug widely used by doctors as a muscle relaxant and is popular because it is fast acting. "The killers used the drug succinylcholine to sedate Mahmoud al Mabhouh before they suffocated him. The assassins used this method so that it would seem that his death was natural, there were no signs of resistance shown by the victim." Major General Khamis Mattar al-Mazeina, the deputy commander of Dubai police said in a statement. The case was It is widely suspected that the Israeli intelligence unit Mossad is behind the assassination of Mahmoud al Mabhouh but Israel has so far failed to confirm or deny this. Mahmoud al Mabhouh was found dead in his hotel room on January 20 this year.The drug believed to have been used in this case is succinylcholine. It is a drug widely used by doctors as a muscle relaxant and is popular because it is fast acting."The killers used the drug succinylcholine to sedate Mahmoud al Mabhouh before they suffocated him. The assassins used this method so that it would seem that his death was natural, there were no signs of resistance shown by the victim." Major General Khamis Mattar al-Mazeina, the deputy commander of Dubai police said in a statement.The case was highlighted earlier after Dubai authorities identified 12 UK passports were used by the assassins. In all the Dubai police have 26 suspects.It is widely suspected that the Israeli intelligence unit Mossad is behind the assassination of Mahmoud al Mabhouh but Israel has so far failed to confirm or deny this. More about Hamas, Israel, Mossad, Dubai More news from hamas israel mossad dubai