Officials: Iranians sought U.S. targets in Kenya

In this Wednesday, June 27, 2012, file photo, a Kenyan policewoman accompanies Iranian nationals Sayed Mansour Mousavi, center, and Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammad, right, in the Nairobi magistrates court in Nairobi, Kenya. / AP Photo

(AP) NAIROBI, Kenya - Two Iranians who led authorities to a cache of explosives after their arrest planned to attack Israeli, U.S., British or Saudi targets inside Kenya, officials told The Associated Press on Monday.

The two are believed to be members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, an elite and secretive unit that acts against foreign interests, one of the officials said.

The foiled attack appeared to fit into a global pattern of alleged plots by Iranian agents. Previous plots were uncovered in the U.S. — against Saudi Arabia's ambassador — as well as in Thailand, Azerbaijan and India.

Kenyan security forces arrested the Iranians on June 19 and were then led to 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of RDX, a powerful explosive that could have been used against multiple targets or concentrated in one large bomb. If used together, the explosives could have leveled a medium-sized hotel, officials told AP. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

The two suspects — Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammad and Sayed Mansour Mousavi — appeared in a Kenyan court last week, where Mohammad said he had been interrogated by Israeli agents. Israel's embassy said it had no comment.

In Israel, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the AP that "there are no limits to the Iranian terror."

"After Iran sent its people to assassinate the Saudi ambassador on American soil and carry out attacks in Azerbaijan, Bangkok, Tbilisi and New Delhi, now its intention to carry out attacks in Africa is revealed. The international community needs to fight the world's greatest exporter of terror," said a statement from Netanyahu's office.

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Given the previous alleged plots against Israeli interests overseas, it appeared likely that Israeli properties in Kenya were the likely primary targets, said one of the two officials, a Western diplomat.

Anthony Cordesman, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the alleged plot fits into a pattern of Iranian actions against Israel.

Israel wants Iran to be prevented from developing a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes only, such as generating electricity and medical research.

Five Iranian scientists with links to Tehran's nuclear program have been killed in the last two years, and Iran has blamed Israel — as well as U.S. and British intelligence agencies — for the attacks. In return, Israel blames Iran for alleged reprisal missions on Israeli property and personnel overseas.

Iran has denied any links to attacks outside its borders.

"It is much more likely if they were to do anything in Africa that they would try to find Israeli targets rather than U.S., British or Saudi targets," Cordesman said. "The reason basically is that to some extent, there is an al-Quds operation against Israel, which is a reprisal to Israeli attacks on Iranian physicists and scientists."

Several resorts on Kenya's coast are Israeli-owned, as is Nairobi's largest and newest shopping mall. Militants in 2002 bombed an Israeli-owned luxury hotel near the coastal city of Mombasa, killing 13 people. The militants also tried to shoot down an Israeli airliner at the same time. An al Qaeda operative was linked to those attacks.

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[aintfakin]

Iran's delusions of granduer are amusing

[Nocults]

And, Iraq had WMD's.

On Jan. 17, 1961,
President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his farewell address, in which he warned, "We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

[hypnotoad72]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4756962/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BEsZMvrq-I

That's all I know about Iraq, but given the number of times Bush changed the reason for the war (WMDs, liberating the people, blah blah blah) I kinda stopped believing in him...

Eisenhower's quote wasn't unjust. He was a good President as well.

Terrorists would likely go after any US interests... I wonder how India, Russia, and China are combating terrorism, if it is a true global threat...

[MagnaCartaUK]

From Georgia, (Lol, the country not the State), to Mali, and to Thailand is a formidible challange in terms of confronting them. It seems to be designed that way if this account is accurate. Either that or a long-term diversion to buy time for plans aimed at establishing themselves in the Balkans and the generally less secure south-eastern Europe - along with south-east Asia, (Indonesia, Philipines, etc) come to that. Infiltrating this scum is important, but also the task of not alienating muslims who in many ways fear living under the radical Islamic yoke. They may be hemmed in by Russia and China in the Middle East, but that makes India all the more an important friend to help physically split their ability to move en masse, and in many ways the Horn of Africa similarly. Just my thoughts anyway.

[fredisalive]

Stay the hell away from Kenya you towel heads!

[smittyc]

The men claimed they were interrogated by people from the Israeli embassy. That is a completely false claim. The embassy invited them to the embassy where they took a bath and got cleaned up. After bathing they were so grateful they led the Kenyans to their bomb cache.

[tstruble1]

those 2 guys look like lackeys, probably getting money so the kids can attend USC

[jjbologna]

Funny how the President has nothing to say about this. It's time to send the Obama whimp packing. We do not need him for another four years of golf and self centered interests. This is the worst President ever.....

[KPeters_from_UK]

Yeah, you're right jjbologna. Obama should have told the American people EVERYTHING before, during and after. I can't believe he didn't ask the American people for permission. It's ...it's like he should have told everyone about finding Bin Laden's compound before the Navy Seal strike. What a fool. Why is he trying to keep these things quiet? It's like he is trying to keep secret CIA and FBI National security matters ...well like ...secret.

[KPeters_from_UK]

I know! He should have the CIA set up a blog on line where we can follow their day to day activities.