| Ringsted terror plot | |
| Location: | Ringsted, Denmark |
| Target: | ASMLA |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Type: | Assassination |
| Fatalities: | 0 |
| Injuries: | 0 |
The assassination of ASMLA leadership was an alleged Iranian plot which took place in October 2018, when a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent was arrested and suspected of having planned Iranian intelligence operations in Denmark.[1] [2] [3] Both the Norwegian PST and the Danish PET also suspected the man to take part in the planning of an alleged[4] [5] assassination against the leader of the Iranian group Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz. He was arrested in Gothenburg on 21 October 2018.[6] [7] Denmark called for EU sanctions against Iran as a result.[8] Tehran denied the allegation and raised suspicion over the timing of the incident, saying that the plot was devised to damage Iran-Europe relations at a critical time.[3]
Denmark's security services accused Iranian intelligence service of plotting an assassination on Danish territory. Danish police believe the Norwegian citizen observed and photographed outside the residence of a Danish-Iranian leader of the Iranian separatist movement ASMLA (an organization that fights for independence for the Arabian-Iranian province Khuzestan). The search for the suspect led to a major security operation between Denmark and Sweden, including closing Denmark's borders. According to the Jerusalem Post, the suspect was found with photos of houses and apartments of ASMLA dissidents.[9]
On October 21, 2018, a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent was arrested on suspicion of helping Iranian intelligence service "to act in Denmark" and planning to kill an ASMLA member.[10] [11] Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen protested the alleged[4] [5] assassination plot in social media.[12]
According to the PET chief, there is reason to believe that the detained who now is in custody, has observed and photographed the leader of ASMLA's residence between 25-27 of September. He then intended to hand over the information gathered to Iranian authorities and also participating in the planning of an assassination plot of the ASMLA leader, which is stated in a press release from PET.[13] Two additional Arab separatists living together in an apartment in Ringsted, 60km south-west of Copenhagen, were also targeted. Iran regards ASMLA as a terrorist organization.[14] Norway summoned the Iranian ambassador over the incident.[15] [16]
In October 2018, Denmark recalled its ambassador to Iran.[17]
The suspect, as well as Iran’s Foreign Ministry, have denied the accusations.[18] [19] In September 2018, Iran accused Denmark, the Netherlands, and Britain of hosting members of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz, which Iran considers to be a "terrorist group" and accuses of being responsible for a 2018 terrorist attack in Ahvaz.
In a 20 November 2018 session, the Radio & TV authority (Danish: Radio- og tv-nævnet) launched an investigation on whether broadcasts by the suspect amounted to hate speech or encouraging terrorism.[20]