KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities on Wednesday arrested an Iranian suspected in an alleged bomb plot against Israeli diplomats in Thailand, Malaysia's police chief said.
The Iranian was among three suspects in the bombings that rattled the Thai capital Bangkok on Tuesday and have piled pressure on Tehran amid accusations of a terror campaign against the Jewish state.
A statement released by Malaysian police chief Ismail Omar late Wednesday said authorities arrested the suspect in the capital Kuala Lumpur.
“The Iranian was arrested under the Immigration Act of Malaysia out of intelligence provided by Thai counterparts,” the statement said.
“He is being investigated for terrorism activities in relation to bombings in Thailand.”
The Iranian national who was arrested in Malaysia for suspected involvement in a botched bomb plot in Thailand had been attempting to fly to Iran when he was detained, the government said Thursday.
The arrest on Wednesday of Masoud Sedaghat Zadeh at Kuala Lumpur's international airport showed Malaysia was “very serious and committed” to addressing the threat of terrorism, said Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
“The authorities of this country will never allow Malaysia to become a location, base, or transit point for terrorists or individuals who are wanted by any other country,” he said in a statement.
It gave no further details other than to confirm the 31-year-old suspect had fled to Malaysia on Tuesday and was suspected in the Thai incident.
Malaysia's government and police have been tight-lipped about the case so far, citing an ongoing investigation, and have declined detailed comment on whether the Iranian suspect would be deported or charged in Malaysia.
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