Belgium court sentences Iranian envoy to 20 years in jail over Paris bomb plot
Antwerp trial was the first of an Iranian official for suspected terrorism in Europe since Iran s 1979 revolution
A heavily armed policeman stands outside the courthouse in Antwerp (AFP) By Published date: 4 February 2021 14:39 UTC | Last update: 1 month 2 weeks ago
An Iranian diplomat accused of planning to bomb a meeting of an exiled opposition group was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday. The sentencing concluded the first trial of an Iranian official for suspected terrorism in Europe since Iran s 1979 revolution.
Assadolah Assadi was found guilty of attempted terrorism after a foiled plot to bomb a rally of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) near Paris in June 2018, Belgian prosecution lawyers and civil parties to the prosecution said.
Thursday, 4 February, 2021 - 11:15
Heavily armed policemen patrol outside the courthouse during the trial of four persons including an Iranian diplomate and Belgian-Iranian couple before the Antwerp criminal court in Antwerp, on February 4, 2021. (Photo by DIRK WAEM / BELGA / AFP) Asharq Al-Awsat
A Belgian court convicted an Iranian diplomat Thursday of masterminding a thwarted 2018 bombing of an exiled opposition rally outside Paris and ordered him jailed for 20 years.
Assadollah Assadi, now 49, was attached to the Iranian mission in Austria when he supplied explosives for the planned attack.
After the attack was foiled, he was arrested in Germany in July 2018, where he was deemed not to be able to claim diplomatic immunity.
Updated / Thursday, 4 Feb 2021
14:52
People gesture and wave former flags of Iran as they protest outside the Antwerp criminal court
A Belgian court has convicted an Iranian diplomat for plotting a thwarted 2018 bombing of an opposition rally outside Paris and ordered that he is jailed for 20 years.
Assadollah Assadi, now 49, was attached to the Iranian mission in Austria when he supplied explosives for the planned attack.
After the attack was foiled, he was arrested in Germany in July 2018, where he was deemed not to be able to claim diplomatic immunity.
Three accomplices, dual Iranian-Belgians, were given jail terms of between 15 and 18 years and stripped of their Belgian citizenship.
Verdict in terror trial to complicate Iran’s calculations with US
The case, which represents the first trial of an Iranian official for suspected terrorism in the EU, sheds light on Tehran’s terror activities abroad just as it hopes the arrival of new US president will herald a loosening of sanctions.
Thursday 04/02/2021
An armed policeman stands outside the courthouse during the trial of four persons, including an Iranian diplomat before the Antwerp criminal court in Belgium, on February 4, 2021. (AFP)
ANTWERP, Belgium – A Belgian court returns a verdict on Thursday in the trial of an Iranian diplomat accused of plotting a bomb attack against opposition activists meeting in France.
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