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Iranian Diplomat Among Six Arrested in Europe Over Alleged Bomb Plot

by VOA News

   Officials in Belgium, France and Germany have arrested six people over
   an alleged plot to bomb a large rally of exiled Iranian opposition
   supporters in France this past weekend.

   An Iranian diplomat in the Austrian capital, Vienna, was one of those
   arrested. Officials say the man, who has not been not identified, was
   arrested in Germany for allegedly being in contact with two of the
   other suspects, a couple from Belgium.

   Belgium's federal prosecutor's office said Monday that a married couple
   with Iranian roots was charged with "preparing a terrorist crime" after
   they were found with a half kilogram of TATP, a home-made explosive,
   and a detonator.

   Prosecutors accuse the couple of planning to bomb the weekend rally of
   Iranian opposition supporters just north of Paris attended by an
   estimated 25,000 people. In attendance at the rally were also leading
   U.S. figures, including U.S. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer,
   Rudy Giuliani.

   In France, another three people were taken into custody over the
   alleged plot. Officials say they are working to determine the French
   suspects' relationship with the Belgium suspects.

   The developments come as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in
   Switzerland as part of a visit to Europe in which Iran is seeking
   greater cooperation with the continent after the U.S. withdrawal from
   the Iranian nuclear agreement. Rouhani is also expected to visit
   Austria this week.

   Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, called the news of the
   arrests a "sinister false-flag ploy."

   In a tweet Monday, he wrote "How convenient: Just as we embark on a
   presidential visit to Europe, an alleged Iranian operation and its
   'plotters' arrested. Iran unequivocally condemns all violence & terror
   anywhere, and is ready to work with all concerned to uncover what is a
   sinister false flag ploy."