The Dutch intelligence service has accused Iran of attempting to murder an Iranian citizen in Harlem, while suspects were reportedly in contact with a third man.
On Thursday, the Dutch news service AIVD accused Iran of an attempt to murder an Iranian citizen living in Harle, the Netherlands. One of the suspicious attackers was reportedly involved in the assassination of Spanish politician Alej Vidala-Quadras in 2023. TASR reports according to the AFP report.
AIVD claims that in June 2024 in the middle of the night, two masked attackers climbed the balcony of an Iranian man, but the police managed to hold them in time. The couple was reportedly in contact with a third party who gave them instructions on the phone. “According to intelligence information, Iran is likely to be responsible for the assassination,” AIVD said in its annual report. “The incident illustrates the threat that foreign regimes can pose to the Netherlands,” she added.
Ambassador’s summons
The Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp had the Iranian ambassador summoned for explanation. In addition, one of the detained men is also suspected of engaging in an attempt to murder a Spanish right-wing politician and supporter of the Iranian opposition by Alej Vidala-Quadras. Politics on November 9, 2023 in Madrid shot in the face.
“Both murder attempts are part of the methods that Iran has been using for many years – the use of criminal networks in Europe to silence opponents of the regime,” AIVD said.
Previous cases
In 2019, the Netherlands accused Iran of involvement in the murder of two of its dissidents in the Dutch territory in 2015 and 2017. Following the charges, Amsterdam expelled two Iranian diplomats.
The AIVD report states that the security service is actively assessing the potential threats to the upcoming NATO summit to be held in June in the Netherlands and is reportedly attended by US President Donald Trump for the first time.
