Peru police reported the capture of an Iranian national who was supposedly part of the Iranian Quds Force and had plotted to assassinate an Israeli in the South American nation.
Gen. óscar Arriola, Peru's police chief, said during a press briefing that Majid Azizi, 56, was apprehended in Lima on Thursday in the company of two Peruvian citizens.
Arrests Iranian National and Two Peruvians
An Iranian national and two Peruvians were taken into custody as a result of the successful disruption of a suspected terrorist conspiracy, which was confirmed by General Oscar Arriola, the highest-ranking officer in the Peruvian police force, during a news conference. Following a coordinated investigation with foreign intelligence services, uncovered important information on the activities of the Iranian man since his arrival in Peru at the beginning of March, the arrests were carried out.
After allegedly organizing a terrorist cell with the objective of targeting an Israeli person who was participating in the APEC event, the police in Peru responded fast and interfered when it was revealed that the Iranian citizen, who was named as Majid Azizi and was 56 years old, was intending to return to Iran. Although General Arriola did not reveal the identity of the Israeli because of concerns over security, he did stress how important it was to carry out the operation.
Azizi, who also holds Peruvian nationality through marriage, was apprehended along with the Peruvian accomplices on Thursday. The police chief highlighted the identification of the potential target but refrained from releasing further details due to security concerns.
Despite assertions made by General Arriola, The Associated Press could not independently verify Azizi's affiliation with the Quds Force, an elite unit within Iran's Revolutionary Guard responsible for overseeing foreign operations. Iranian authorities have remained silent on the matter, with no acknowledgment from Iranian state media as of early Saturday, according to Reuters.
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Peru Unveils First Quds Force-Linked Arrest
Iran has a history of intelligence activities in South America, particularly through its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force. The Quds Force has been linked to incidents such as the impounded Boeing 747 in Argentina, later seized by the United States, and the notorious 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina, resulting in 85 fatalities.
This is the first time that Peruvian officials have made an open statement on the arrest of a person who is suspected of having ties to the Quds Force. In his description of Azizi's capture, General Arriola mentioned that he was brought into prison after he had withdrawn money from an automated teller machine. Additionally, Azizi, along with the two Peruvian colleagues, is currently being held in custody for an initial term of fifteen days on allegations of terrorism.
General Arriola identified that Azizi was preparing to go back to Iran on the day he was captured. Moreover, it came to attention that Azizi is married to a Peruvian woman, which adds another aspect to the ongoing investigation.
The Iranian citizen's detention and the prevention of the suspected terror plot highlight the continuous global collaboration in dealing with potential threats and protecting national security, ABC News reported.
