Kenyans suspect Iranian agents planned to target Nairobi synagogue, Israeli embassy

Mohammad and Mousavi ‘were casing Jewish institutions and up to no good,’ detective says

By Ilan Ben Zion and AP 4 July 2012, 12:22 am

Edit

Iranian nationals Sayed Mansour Mousavi, center, and Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammad, right, in the Nairobi magistrates court in Nairobi, Kenya, where they faced charges related to the possession of explosives. (photo credit: AP/Khalil Senosi, File)

Two Iranian agents arrested in Kenya with explosives planned on targeting a Nairobi synagogue and the Israeli embassy, a Kenyan detective familiar with the case told The Telegraph newspaper on Tuesday.

“They were driving around Nairobi, they went past the British High Commission, they went past the [Nairobi Hebrew Congregation] synagogue in town, they went to the Israeli embassy,” the detective said.

“It is very clear that they were casing these places, that they were up to no good. From what we saw, their intention was clear to plan and execute terrorism attacks.”

Kenyan security forces arrested Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammad and Sayed Mansour Mousavi in June with 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of explosives. They were charged Monday with possession of explosives “with the intent to commit a felony, namely, acts intended to cause grievous harm.”

Kenyan officials said Monday that the plot appears to fit into a global pattern of attacks or attempted attacks by Iranian agents, mostly against Israeli interests.

One official said the two are members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, an elite and secretive unit. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing security issues.