The secret services of the Netherlands point to Iran for the attempt to murder of Vidal-Quadras | Spain
The Secret Services of the Netherlands (AIVD) consider that Iran be behind the attack against the former PP leader Alejo Vidal-Quadra, who was shot in the face on November 9, 2023 in Madrid by a man who fled on a motorcycle. In its annual report corresponding to 2024, presented this Thursday, the intelligence agency indicates that the aggression « fits with the strategy that Iran has been applying for years: use criminal networks in Europe to silence the supposed opponents of the regime. »
The reference to Tehran from AIVD is novel, although last year one of two suspects detained for another attempt to murder – continues an Iranian political asylum, Siamak Tahmasbi, in the Dutch city of Haarlem – is also the attack against the Spanish expolacy, investigating the National Court. On June 19, 2024, the Dutch Police arrested the French citizen of Tunisian origin Mehrez Ayari, 38, to which his Spanish colleagues have identified as the alleged material author of the attack.
On November 21, 2023, the Spanish police arrested a person in the province of Malaga and two in Granada for their alleged relationship with the attack and Then there have been new arrests. At that time, he signed up for an alleged Iranian track for the ties maintained by the politician with the dissent of that country, which dated their stage as a Europarliamentary of the PP (between 1999 and 2014). « According to the information available, Iran is likely to be responsible for both murder attempts, » says the annual AIVD report on Thursday. Once this, the Dutch Outdoor Holder, Caspar Veldkamp, has summoned the Iran Ambassador, Hadi Farajvad.
In this same context is the frustrated assault against dissident Siamak Tahmasbi, which occurred in June 2024. The cars night, the victim saw two men climb for their balcony while receiving instructions on the phone from a third person. Tahmasbi warned the police, and after the arrest, it was learned that the two assailants were known in the world of underworld. « One of them is in turn suspicious of the failed attempt of murder of the Spanish politician and critic with Iran, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, » details the AIVD report. Vidal-Quadras narrated on April 15 at the National Court that “increasingly the indications are clearer” of the implication of the Iranian regime in the assault he suffered.
The summary of the year carried out by Dutch Secret Services warns that criminal organizations collect more and more information about officials, politicians and lawyers « with professional follow -up teams. » They have, so to speak, their own intelligence services, which not only suppose a threat to national security. They can be interesting for other countries willing to commit murders. Iran considers that this type of accusations are part of a defamation campaign, but the Iranian community settled in the Netherlands has been claiming greater protection by the police. In 2017, the Iranian-Neerlandic political activist Ahmad Mola Nissi was killed in The Hague. He had a foundation considered terrorist for Iran, and had denounced seven times at the police station in previous years threats and intimidation.
In its pages, AIVD’s study highlights, on the other hand, that Russia « touches state terrorism to sow fear in Europe. » He explains it by saying that the Moscow regime « was (last year) more aggressive, shameless and provocative, » with European countries. There was « from spying to cyber attacks, and (Moscow) resorts to sabotage. » For Erik Akerboom, general director of the Intelligence Services of the Netherlands, the balance of power is being modified, « and the question is how the world order will look, » he said when presenting the study.
