A 12-man squad with a car bomb: first details of the assassination in Iran.

12-man commando, car bomb: Leak reveals first details of attack in Iran

For days, the waves have been rising in the case of the assassinated Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fachrisadeh. Now, a few days later, the first details of the attack are known. A twelve-man commando carried out the attack, including snipers. This is what Iranian journalist Mohamad Ahwaze reports. He cites leaks in the Iranian power apparatus. Ahwaze made a name for himself in the spring with revelations about the true extent of the corona pandemic in the country.

Around 60 people participated in the attack, 50 of whom provided logistical support in the background. A commando, consisting of twelve highly specialized attackers, was in the city of Absard 50 kilometers from Tehran and spied on Fachrisadeh. Fachrisadeh was known to be planning a trip to his vacation home. Then the planning of the specific attack would have begun.

Suddenly the power went out

About half an hour before the convoy passed the roundabout in front of the city walls, the power was cut off throughout the region. A Nissan pickup loaded with explosives exploded as the convoy passed. Then the hail of bullets began: parts of the command were waiting in a vehicle and several attackers on motorcycles were involved.

But Ahwaze says the 62-year-old did not die in a hail of bullets. The commando leader dragged him out of the car and executed him. Then the attackers parted ways. No one was arrested.

Fachrisadeh and some of his bodyguards were initially taken to a nearby hospital in a police helicopter. However, it was virtually out of service due to the power outage.

Meanwhile, the Iranian news agency FNA (Fars News Agency) paints a different picture of the attack. For example, the nuclear physicist’s convoy was attacked by a remote-controlled machine gun mounted on a van. The 62-year-old nuclear physicist came out and then was deliberately shot at. The truck exploded shortly after.

No transparency: Iran goes wrong

However: The news agency is officially independent, but is considered close to the regime. His account supports the official Iranian government narrative. For them, the incident is an incomparable shame. It is difficult to convey that a command of foreign agents is supposed to have killed a figurehead for the Iranian nuclear program and then escaped undisturbed without losing face. Iran blames the United States and Israel for the crime.

The New York Times also assumes that the Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad is behind the plot. She cites an unspecified source in US government circles. With so-called Kidon teams, the Mossad has units that operate behind enemy lines. They were founded in response to the attacks on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics.

(tat)