Delhi attack part of plot to kill diplomats: Report

Intelligence agencies of four countries have uncovered new evidence of an alleged campaign run by Iran-linked operatives to kill foreign diplomats in at least seven countries, including India, in the last 13 months, a media report said on Monday.

Referring to the investigations carried out by intelligence agencies of several countries, The Washington Post said "US and Middle Eastern officials now see the attempts as part of a broader campaign by Iran-linked operatives to kill foreign diplomats in at least seven countries over a span of 13 months".

These countries, according to the daily, include the United States, Azerbaijan, India, Turkey, Thailand, Pakistan and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia.

In the US, authorities foiled an assassination attempt on the Saudi ambassador in Washington, while in Azerbaijan security agencies early this year made a series of arrests to foil a bid to kill American diplomats.

In India, there was an attempt to kill an Israeli diplomat this year.

Israeli and Indian officials have described substantial Iranian links to a car bombing in February that seriously wounded the wife of an Israeli diplomat in New Delhi, the daily said.

"In recent weeks, investigators working in four countries have amassed new evidence tying the disparate assassination attempts to one another and linking all of them to either Iran-backed Hezbollah militants or operatives based inside Iran, according to US and Middle Eastern security officials," the daily said.

An official report last month summarising the evidence cited phone records, forensic tests, coordinated travel arrangements and even cellphone SIM cards purchased in Iran and used by several of the would-be assailants, the newspaper quoted two officials, who have seen the six-page document, as saying.

However, the daily said the alleged attempts seemed to be halted as Iran began to shift its tone after weeks of bellicose anti-Western rhetoric and threats to shut down vital shipping lanes.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Pawar to seek special package for state

Railway bribery case: Nephew rose from obscurity, worked behind the scenes

For AMU students, wearing sherwani no issue

Polls today, Cong pins hope on BSY