Five MPs among thousands who escaped Paris terror plot
FIVE MPS were among thousands who escaped a terror plot at a rally in Paris two years ago allegedly engineered by an Iranian diplomat.
A bomb that had been meant to explode at the Free Iran Rally on June 30, 2018 was found in the car of a couple who were arrested in the Belgian capital Brussels.
Conservative MPs Bob Blackman, Matthew Offord, and Theresa Villiers attended the event, accordingtotheregisterofinterests on the Government’s website.
They were joined by another Tory MP, Sir David Amess, and Labour’s Roger Godsiff, according to The Sun newspaper.
The couple who were arrested, Amir Saadouni and Nasimeh Naami, go on trial in Antwerp alongside two Iranian citizens, including diplomat Assadollah Assadi, who is believed to be the plot’s mastermind.
According to court documents, Assadi operated on the orders of Iran’s authorities and smuggled the explosives into Europe on a commercial flight.
He allegedly handed the bomb to Saadouni and Naami during a meeting in a Pizza Hut restaurant in Luxembourg two days before they were arrested.
Mr Blackman told a national newspaper: “For the first time in history, an accredited diplomat is about to face trial on terrorism charges in Europe.
“That he represents the government of Iran is no surprise.”
He said there were around 100,000 Iranians at the rally and hundreds of international dignitaries, including British MPs and Donald Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
“Had the plot succeeded, it would have been the deadliest terror operation ever carried out in Europe,” he added.
“The US would undeniably have declared war on Iran – and it was only because the plot was foiled, World War Three was averted.”
Belgian police were tipped off about a possible attack on the rally of the Mujahedeen- e- Khalq, or MEK, before finding 550g of explosive and a detonator in the couple’s Mercedes- Benz car.
The type of explosive found was the same as those used in the November2015Parisattacksinwhich 130 were killed, and the Manchester Arena bombing in which SalmanAbedikilled23 people.
Former Environment Secretary Ms Villiers told a national newspaper: “Sending a bomb to Europe in a diplomatic bag on a commercial flight is an outrage.” She said she felt she had a “lucky escape”.