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Iranian assassination plot of ASMLA leadership in Denmark

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Ringsted terror plot
LocationRingsted, Denmark
Date(CET)
TargetASMLA
Attack type
Assassination
Deaths0
Injured0

The assassination of ASMLA leadership was an alleged[1] Iranian plot which took place in October 2018, when a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent was arrested and suspected of having planned Iranian intelligence operations in Denmark.[2][1][3] Both the Norwegian PST and the Danish PET also suspected the man to take part in the planning of an alleged[4][5] assassination against the leader of the Iranian group Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz. He was arrested in Gothenburg on 21 October 2018.[6][7] Denmark called for EU sanctions against Iran as a result.[3][8] Tehran denied the allegation and raised suspicion over the timing of the incident, saying that the plot was devised to damage Iran-Europe relations at a critical time.[3]

Accusations of spying and assassination attempt

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Denmark's security services accused Iranian intelligence service of plotting an assassination on Danish territory. Danish police believe the Norwegian citizen observed and photographed outside the residence of a Danish-Iranian leader of the Iranian separatist movement ASMLA (an organization that fights for independence for the Arabian-Iranian province Khuzestan).[1][9] The search for the suspect led to a major security operation between Denmark and Sweden, including closing Denmark's borders. According to the Jerusalem Post, the suspect was found with photos of houses and apartments of ASMLA dissidents.[10]

On October 21, 2018, a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent was arrested on suspicion of helping Iranian intelligence service "to act in Denmark" and planning to kill an ASMLA member.[11][12] Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen protested the alleged[4][5] assassination plot in social media.[13]

According to the PET chief, there is reason to believe that the detained who now is in custody, has observed and photographed the leader of ASMLA's residence between 25-27 of September. He then intended to hand over the information gathered to Iranian authorities and also participating in the planning of an assassination plot of the ASMLA leader, which is stated in a press release from PET.[14][9] Two additional Arab separatists living together in an apartment in Ringsted, 60km south-west of Copenhagen, were also targeted.[9] Iran regards ASMLA as a terrorist organization.[9] Norway summoned the Iranian ambassador over the incident.[15][16]

In October 2018, Denmark recalled its ambassador to Iran.[17]

The suspect, as well as Iran’s Foreign Ministry, have denied the accusations.[18][19] In September 2018, Iran accused Denmark, the Netherlands, and Britain of hosting members of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz, which Iran considers to be a "terrorist group" and accuses of being responsible for a 2018 terrorist attack in Ahvaz.[15]

In a 20 November 2018 session, the Radio & TV authority (Danish: Radio- og tv-nævnet) launched an investigation on whether broadcasts by the suspect amounted to hate speech or encouraging terrorism.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Sorensen, Martin Selsoe (2018-11-01). "Iran Accused of Plot to Assassinate Dissident in Denmark". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  2. ^ "Denmark arrests suspect over Iranian 'assassination' plot". CNN. 31 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (2018-10-30). "Denmark pushes for fresh Iran sanctions over 'assassination plot'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  4. ^ a b "trump blames his intelligence chiefs being naive iran europe has plan prove him wrong". washingtonpost. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Denmark calls for fresh EU sanctions on Iran after alleged assassination plot foiled". abc. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  6. ^ Sorensen, Martin Selsoe (1 November 2018). "Workers' Youth League affair". New York Times. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Iran's 'murder plot' in Denmark, explained". BBC News. 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  8. ^ "Europeans Eye Sanctions on Iran Over Covert Activities". The Wall Street Journal. 1 November 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d Milne, Robert (30 October 2008). "Denmark accuses Iran of planning attack near Copenhagen Assassination targets were allegedly members of separatist group regarded as terrorists by Tehran". Financial Times. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Mossad intel helped Denmark thwart Iranian attack". Jpost. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  11. ^ "Officials thwarted Iranian assassination plot in Denmark". Fox News. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  12. ^ "Denmark recalls ambassador to Iran over foiled attack". France24.
  13. ^ "Le Danemark affirme avoir déjoué un attentat et accuse l'Iran". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2018-10-30. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  14. ^ Kalajdzic, Pedja (2018-10-30). "Norsk statsborger siktet for attentatforsøk i Danmark". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  15. ^ a b AP and TOI staff. "Norway summons Iranian ambassador over Denmark assassination plan". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  16. ^ Daraghi, Borzou (21 November 2018). "Europe refrains from harsh response against Iran over terror plots for fear of emboldening Trump". The Independent. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Denmark recalls ambassador to Iran over foiled attack". France 24. 2018-10-30. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  18. ^ "Europe opens door to sanctions on Iran after terror plots in Denmark, Paris". Fox News.
  19. ^ "Anschlagsversuch: Iran dementiert geplante Auftragsmorde in Dänemark". ZEIT ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  20. ^ "Nævn undersøger, om eksiliranere har opfordret til had og terror". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-12-09.
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