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Iranian diplomat extradited to Belgium over ‘bomb plot’
BRUSSELS, Oct 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – An Iranian diplomat linked to an alleged
bomb plot against an Iranian opposition rally in France has been extradited
to Belgium from Germany, prosecutors said on Tuesday.
The Vienna-based Iranian, who has previously been identified as Assadollah
Assadi, was handed over and will appear before the Belgian judge in charge of
the case on Wednesday, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office told AFP.
Iran last week staunchly denied French accusations that one of its
diplomats was involved in the alleged plot that took place just ahead of a
visit to Europe by President Hassan Rouhani.
The suspected plan to target a gathering of the National Council of
Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in a Paris suburb came to light a few days after
the June 30 event.
Six people were arrested afterwards in coordinated raids by European police
forces, including Assadi.
The meeting was also attended by leading US figures, including close allies
of US President Donald Trump.
Iran has accused the opposition group, the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran
(MEK), which Tehran considers a “terrorist” group, of orchestrating the plot
to discredit Rouhani.
Belgian authorities in July requested the extradition of both Assadi and a
man identified as Merhad A., who was detained in Paris.
Belgian police believe Merhad A. is an accomplice of a husband and wife
team caught in Brussels in possession of 500 grams of the powerful explosive
TATP and a detonator.
All three are Belgian nationals of Iranian origin.
“We deny the accusations and forcefully condemn the Iranian diplomat’s
arrest and call for his immediate release,” the Iran foreign affairs ministry
said on October 2 in a statement.
But French security services believe the Iranian intelligence ministry was
behind the foiled plot.
In retaliation, France announced last week it had frozen Assadi’s assets
for six months.
BSS/AFP/MRI/2321 HRS