Albania turns in MKO hard drives to Iran: Iranian official

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Jul 2023 11:32

The chairman of the Iranian government's information council says part of the hard drives and cases had arrived in Iran.

The Iranian national flag waves in Tehran, Iran, March 31, 2020 (AP)

Several pieces of electronic and storage equipment captured during a recent Albanian police operation at a camp belonging to the Western-backed terrorist group Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) have been turned over to Iran, state-run Iranian news agency IRNA reported, citing an Iranian official.

On Monday, Sepehr Khalaji, the chairman of the Iranian government's information council, tweeted that "part of the hard drives and cases" had arrived in Iran.

Khalaji pointed out that Iranian experts were working to retrieve data and identify terrorist agents and sabotage units.

"The results so far are promising," the Iranian official indicated.

A couple of days ago, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry hailed the Albanian government and security services for prosecuting members of the MKO.

The Iranian news agency Tasnim cited the ministry as saying that "the Albanian government's recent decisions in relation to MKO terrorists deserve praise."

Albanian police raided on June 20 an MKO camp northwest of Tirana and seized 150 computer devices reportedly linked to prohibited political activities, leading to violent clashes with members of the terrorist group.

At the time, IRNA cited a security source as saying that at least two MKO members were killed and dozens were injured.

The Albanian Ministry of Interior announced that the raid, carried out by the police in the Ashraf 3 camp, which houses Iranian anti-revolution members who belong to MKO, "was carried out in accordance with the law and an order issued by the Anti-Terrorism Court."

On its account, the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime’s office opened inquiries into criminal activities by MKO members.

When Albania agreed to host MKO members in 2013, the two sides signed a contract stipulating that they would not be allowed to engage in political activity and would have to abide by local regulations. However, the raid came as the MKO violated the agreement and engaged in electronic terrorist activities.

The Albanian Ministry of Interior also indicated that the police "searched offices and electronic devices," adding that "the police confiscated some non-traditional electronic devices, including a number of drones."