Homeland Security

Seven al-Qaeda members arrested in Sardasht Township, Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, December 30, IRNA -- A reliable informed source told IRNA Wednesday night about getting arrested of seven al-Qaeda group members in Sardasht Township, located in the southern part of Iran's West Azarbaijan Province.

The informed source who spoke to IRNA on condition of anonymity further reiterated in his exclusive interview with our correspondent in Azarbaijan, 'The arrested a-Qaeda members were identified about a month ago by Iranian intelligence officers and arrest warrants had been issued for them by the judiciary officials.'

He added, 'These people had begum their activities in the region during the past couple of years aimed at propagating the Salafi and Wahabi versions of Islam among the region's people, including sowing the seeds of discord between the Shi'a and Sunni Muslim brethren in Azarbaijan.'

The informed source said, 'Arresting the al-Qaeda agents in the region is the result of tireless efforts of dozens of the Iranian intelligence officers for many months here, and the arrested figures have been handed to judiciary officials to stand for trial.'

He also informed IRNA that also a noticeable amount of books and pamphlets of al-Qaeda, the Wahabi and Salifi Islamic sects, and a number of other less known clans were found and confiscated from those agents' team home.

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