Iran-supported killer gangs are marking British Jews for potential assassination plots
Iranian-backed murderous gangs are flagging British Jews for possible assassination plots
- An earlier report detailed how Iran is ‘mapping’ British Jews as assassination targets.
- The security minister said British intelligence could confirm the reports.
British Jews are being spied on by organized criminal gangs hired by Iran and targeted for possible assassination, the security minister has warned.
Tom Tugendhat confirmed reports that Tehran was tracking high-profile members of the Jewish community as revenge killings.
This follows a Jewish Chronicle report detailing how the Iranian regime was ‘mapping’ Jews in the UK as assassination targets should Israel launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Tugendhat has since confirmed the report, saying British intelligence was closely monitoring regime agents.
He said Iran was supporting organized criminal gangs in Britain to carry out their surveillance.
Tom Tugendhat (pictured) confirmed reports that Tehran was tracking high-profile members of the Jewish community as revenge killings.
The security minister, who is responsible for MI5, said the jewish chronicle: ‘We have very clear intelligence on the activities of hostile regimes in the UK and are closely monitoring what their agents and associates are doing.
“We know that the Iranians are using non-traditional sources to carry out these operations, including organized criminal gangs.
‘They are paying criminal gangs to keep watch.
Tugendhat added: ‘Basically, the Iranians are using British-based thieves to spy for them.
‘It can be very clear that he would not have mentioned Jewish and Israeli targets unless he had a good reason to do so.
“I take all threats against anyone in the UK very seriously and the reason I singled out the Israelis and the Jewish community is that we have been seeing threats and Iranian operational activity directed against them. I do not issue these warnings lightly.
Tugendhat did not give any more precise details of his intelligence, but said that Iran was conducting these operations in Britain and other Western countries.
The security minister’s comments are likely to fuel debate within the government over whether the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) should be described as a terrorist group by the UK, as is the case with the US.
Mr Tugendhat said: “Basically, the Iranians are using British-based thieves to spy for them.” Pictured: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, on February 15, 2023.
Tugendhat reportedly believes the IRGC should be prescribed the ID, but Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is against the plans amid concerns about keeping communication channels open with the Iranian regime.
The statute of limitations as a terrorist group would make it a criminal offense in the UK to be a member of, encourage support for or provide funding for the group.