New Evidence of Mossad Involvment in Belgian Murder Case

The Belgian State Prosecutor is considering reopening a probe into the murder of Canadian scientist Dr. Gerald Bull in Brussels 12 years ago, amid new suspicions that the Mossad was responsible. Belgian police say they have new information that the Mossad was directly involved in killing Bull.

On Friday, the Belgian daily Derniere Heure published a report saying Belgian police and the State Prosecutor have information from a "reliable source" that identified a Mossad agent, a member of an "elite unit," as one of Bull's assassins. The report said the source of the information is in a Central American country "previously controlled by Britain" the country is most likely Belize. The information source said a piece of jewelry or a bracelet was taken from Bull and kept by the suspect.

The Magistrate appointed to investigate the case is considering sending a Belgian team to the Central American country to examine the evidence. Israel sources said they had not received any official or unofficial requests from Belgium on the matter.

Dr. Bull, a Canadian-born astrophysicist and metallurgist, worked for the Canadian Defense Ministry and for the United States during the 1960s on a project to build a cannon powerful enough to launch satellites into space. From 1980 Bull lived in Brussels from where he offered consulting services to the artillery corps of different countries.

Bull offered his services to Israel but was turned down. However, during the early 1980s Bull was hired by Iraq to help with its project to develop a mega-cannon capable of firing a huge projectile at a distance of 1,500 km. Iraq was at war with Iran at the time.

On 22 March, 1990, Bull was shot dead from close range at the entrance to his home. The two assassins escaped without taking his briefcase or any of the documents and jewelry he was carrying.

Many international media asserted several times that the Mossad was behind the killing, but Iraq and Iran were also candidates for suspicion. The official investigation in Belgium reached a dead end.

Members of Bull's family and investigative reporters suggested that Bull was in contact with members of Israel's intelligence services, and provided them with inside information about the Iraqi super-gun project.

One theory held that the Mossad killed him for failing to provide accurate information about the Iraqi program to extend the range of Scud missiles and improve their accuracy.

Yossi Melman, Ha'aretz Correspondent