Iran strengthening ties with al-Qaeda, say intelligence chiefs

Thai intelligence officials said yesterday that the bombs found in the Bangkok
blasts on Tuesday were similar those used in attacks in New Delhi and the
Georgian capital Tbilisi on Monday and that they had also been prepared for
use against leading Israeli diplomats.

“At this time, Iran’s terrorist activities have been exposed to everyone,” Mr
Netanyahu said.

“Nations of the world must condemn these incidents and draw red lines against
this Iranian aggression. Aggression like this, if it is not stopped, will
end up in spreading.”

Sky News reported on Wednesday that Iran had sealed a deal with the core
al–Qaeda leadership to provide advanced explosives training and “some
funding and a safe haven” two years ago, a pact that had become
“operational”.

Security experts involved in Olympics planning said Iranian assistance would
enable more sophisticated attacks. Until now the most likely threat to the
event had been seen coming from “lone wolf” figures inspired by al–Qaeda
propaganda.

British officials said Iran was known to use proxy groups such as al–Qaeda but
there had been no new lines of investigation opened into suspected plots
involving the two sides.

Terrorism experts said assistance from Iran could give al–Qaeda a lifeline of
new funding and additional support. Potential co–operation in European
countries would have benefits for both.

“Areas they could help include assistance, faciliation of travel and
targeting,” said Magnus Ranstorp, a director at the Swedish National Defence
College. “There are few terror groups that could pull off the type of
operation that was exposed in Thailand.”

While Iran has denied responsibility for Tuesday’s blasts in Bangkok, Israel
has blamed Tehran both for that and for the two bombs targeting its
diplomats in India and Georgia on Monday.

Officials appeared to give weight to that theory yesterday, when Itzhak
Shohan, the Israeli ambassador to Thailand, said:”From what we can assume
that is the same network.”

A senior Thai intelligence officer said the three men intended to attack
Israeli diplomats in Bangkok.

“These three Iranian men are an assassination team and their targets are
Israeli diplomats, including the ambassador,” he told AFP news agency.
“Their plan was to attach bombs to diplomats’ cars.”

Malaysian police arrested Masoud Sedaghatzadeh, the third resident of the
house being used by Iranian operatives to construct explosive devices, after
he fled the Thai capital.

Neighbours in the quiet cul–de–sac in Bangkok say the Iranian men rented the
single–storey house a month ago.

Thai police said that they had discovered two radios packed with 3lb and 4lb
of C4 plastic explosives and magnets that might have been used to attach the
devices to cars.

They have charged the two captured Iranians, Saeid Morati, 28, whose legs were
blown off, and Mohammad Hazaein, 42, with causing explosions and attempted
murder.

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