Iran defuses bomb on Tehran-bound plane
Iranian security officials successfully manage to defuse a bomb on a Tehran-bound passenger airliner, averting what could have been a major air catastrophe.
Within minutes from take-off, flight security officials aboard a late Saturday Kish Air flight en route to Tehran from the southern city of Ahwaz, discovered that a handmade bomb had been planted in the plane's toilet.After an emergency return to Ahwaz airport, all 131 passengers were safely evacuated.
Bomb disposal squad and security personnel arrived just in time to defuse the explosive device before it before it caused serious casualties.
Security officials have been on a sharp lookout for bomb threats after a deadly terror attack in southeastern Iran sent shockwaves around the country.
At least 25 people were killed and 125 others were injured when terrorists targeted a religious ceremony in the Shia Amir al-Momenin mosque in Zahedan. The mosque was partially destroyed by the blast.
The Pakistan-based Jundullah terror group has claimed responsibility for the mosque bombing, saying it was staged as part of their efforts to destabilize the country ahead of the June 12 elections.
While Jundullah terrorists flatly deny having links to Washington, an ABC news report in 2007 quoted US and Pakistani intelligence sources as saying that the terrorist group 'has been secretly encouraged and advised by American officials' to subvert the government in Iran.
According to the ABC report, Jundullah militants have been ordered to 'stage deadly guerrilla raids inside the Islamic Republic, kidnap Iranian officials and execute them on camera' all as part of a 'programmatic objective to overthrow the Iranian government'.
Investigative journalist, Seymour Hersh, has also revealed in July that the US Congress had secretly agreed to US President, George W. Bush's $400-million funding request for a major escalation in covert operations inside Iran.
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