Hundreds of French police raided the offices of an Iranian opposition group in Paris region on Tuesday, arresting more than 150 people and seizing $1.3 million in American currency, officials said, according to AP.
The sweep targeted the People's Mujahedeen of Iran, which is the political branch of the Iraq-based Mujahedeen Khalq fighting the Iranian government.
In May, the Mujahedeen Khalq started turning in its weapons to U.S. forces in Iraq under a surrender agreement.
On Tuesday, French agents, police and a special intervention searched 13 sites linked to the People's Mujahedeen, according to an Interior Ministry statement. Police used explosives to blast down some doors, according to one police investigator.
Police said that 165 people were arrested and 158 held for questioning. They were to be transferred to counterintelligence headquarters in Paris. Additionally, police said they also seized $1.3 million in 100-dollar bills.
The Mujahedeen Khalq supported the takeover in 1979 of the US Embassy in Tehran. In April 1992, it attacked Iranian embassies in 13 different countries. In recent years, the group was involved regularly in mortar attacks and hit-and-run raids on Iranian military units and government buildings. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
