Mossad intel helped Denmark thwart Iranian attack
A Norwegian citizen of Iranian background was arrested in Sweden on October 21 and extradited to Denmark
By Herb Keinon, Seth J. Frantzman
The Mossad provided Denmark with information that thwarted an Iranian
plot to assassinate an Iranian separatist leader in the Scandinavian
country, it was revealed on Wednesday.
A Norwegian citizen of Iranian background was arrested in Sweden on
October 21 and extradited to Denmark.According to a KAN Bet report,
information from the Mossad is what led to the arrest of the suspect in
the alleged plot. The Mossad was also responsible for providing
information to French authorities in June about a plan to attack a
meeting of Iranian opposition figures there.
Denmark recalled its ambassador from Iran on Tuesday and accused Tehran
of planning to assassinate a man believed to be a member of an Arab
separatist movement. Iran denied involvement.
“I have decided to recall Denmark’s ambassador in Tehran for
consultations,” Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said. “Denmark
can in no way accept that people with ties to Iran’s intelligence
service plot attacks against people in Denmark.”The suspect was seen
photographing the home of the target. The target was a senior member of
the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz (ASMLA), an
organization that wants a separate state for Arabs in western Iran.
After a shooting at an Iranian military parade in September killed 25
people, both Islamic State and another Arab separatist groups took
responsibility. Iran accused Denmark, Britain and the Netherlands of
harboring leaders of separatist groups.The search for the alleged
assassin, who was thought to be in Denmark on September 28, led to a
major security operation between Denmark and Sweden. The unprecedented
action took place as police hunted a Swedish citizen who was apparently
seen near the home of a dissident activist from ASMLA. Denmark closed
the Øresund Bridge that links Denmark to Sweden and the Great Belt
Bridge linking the Danish island of Zealand with the mainland,
effectively cutting off Copenhagen and the island around it.
Denmark closed its borders and used dogs and helicopters to seek the
suspect. Eventually the suspect was found, not in Denmark but in Sweden,
on October 21. The suspect had photos of houses and apartments of
dissidents from ASMLA. The suspect denied the charges.
“We are dealing with an Iranian intelligence agency planning an attack
on Danish soil,” said Finn Borch Andersen, head of the Danish Security
Service, at a press conference. Samuelsen condemned the incident as
“completely unacceptable” and Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen
said that Copenhagen would work closely with the UK and other countries
to “stand up to Iran.”The plot joins other Iranian-backed attacks and
incidents in Europe. On October 26, France expelled an Iranian diplomat
over a plot in June to attack an opposition rally. In connection to the
same case, Germany has backed the extradition of Assadollah Assadi, an
Iranian diplomat based in Austria and detained in Germany. He may be
extradited to Belgium.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi responded by saying
Denmark’s actions were biased. He told the press that Iran rejected
accusations it was involved in the plot.
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