Suspect in ‘plot’ to bomb Iran opposition extradited to Belgium

A French court has approved the extradition to Belgium of a suspect in an alleged bomb plot against an Iranian opposition rally.

The plan to target a gathering of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in a Paris suburb came to light a few days after the June 30 event.

Six people were arrested in Belgium, France and Germany. Two of them were later released.

Belgian police believe the man arrested at a hotel in Paris, identified as Merhad A, 54, is an accomplice of a husbandand-wife team caught in Brussels in possession of 500 grams of a triacetone triperoxide explosive as well as a detonator.

The couple were identified as Amir S, 38, and Nasimeh N, 33.

All three are Belgians of Iranian origin.

Separately, German police detained Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat working in Vienna.

German prosecutors suspect that Mr Assadi, believed to be an intelligence agent, ordered the couple to attack the rally and gave them the explosive at a June meeting in Luxembourg.

Iran has dismissed the alleged bomb plot as a “sinister false flag ploy” designed to discredit it as it faces diplomatic tensions with the United States.

The rally in the Paris suburb of Villepinte was attended by several allies of US President Donald Trump, including former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and former House speaker Newt Gingrich, both of whom urged regime change in Iran.

Belgian authorities requested the extradition of Mr Assadi and Merhad A.

Merhad A was questioned by French police for three days before being taken into custody. He has agreed to be handed over to Belgium.

He was arrested by police acting on a tip-off. In his phone, he had an Austrian Sim card with one number on it.

The rally in Paris was attended by several allies of US President Donald Trump seeking regime change in Iran