Albanian police raid Iranian MKO camp over terrorist activities

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Jun 2023 10:58

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani warns that MKO elements will always jeopardize the security of their host due to their terrorist nature.

Albanian police raid Iranian MKO camp (Social media)

Albanian authorities raided a camp for members of the exiled Western-backed terrorist group Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) members, seizing 150 computer devices reportedly linked to prohibited political activities, and several people were wounded.

The Albanian Ministry of the 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 they violated the agreement and engaged in electronic terrorist activities.

The Ministry 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."

On its part, Tasnim news agency published a video showing a member of the organization "burning some evidence."

#Albanian police release footage of MKO terrorists setting documents ablaze during raid pic.twitter.com/2d6DC9r3et
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) June 21, 2023

Some camp residents attempted to block the police officers who stepped in to seize the computer devices housed in 17 buildings, and their leaders did not cooperate, according to the head of the national police, Muhamet Rrumbullaku. Fifteen officers were injured, and 21 Ashraf 3 residents were taken to a hospital with injuries from the pepper spray the officers used to defend themselves.

On his account, Albanian Interior Minister Bledi Cuci said he was “indignant and offended” by the reception police encountered.

Reactions over police raid

Commenting on the police raid on the members of the terrorist MKO Organization, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani warned that MKO elements will always jeopardize the security of their host due to their terrorist nature.

He recalled how the Iraqi government, in addition to other governments, has refused to host them for the same reason.

"We hope that the Albanian government will make up for its mistake in hosting these terrorists," Kanaani added.

Concurrently, a State Department spokesperson who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said "Washington had been assured that all actions were conducted in accordance with applicable laws, including with regard to the protection of the rights and freedoms of all persons in Albania."

Additionally, the spokesperson expressed Washington's support to the government, stressing "Albania’s right to investigate any potential illegal activities within its territory."

A flashback

The Ashraf 3 camp was constructed in 2019 by about 2,500 Iranian exiles who were first accommodated in several places. In a 40-hectare (100-acre) region, there are 127 dwellings.

The MKO has lately been engaged in violence or destructive activity in Iran alongside foreign-backed riots that broke out in Iran in mid-September after the death of 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who fainted at a police station in the capital Tehran and was pronounced dead three days later at the hospital. An official report by Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization concluded that Amini’s death was caused by illness rather than alleged blows to the head or other vital body organs.

Later after the riots began to take off, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry announced in a statement that the major elements behind the riots were largely foreign citizens, members of the anti-Iran terrorist Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO), which is based in Albania, and individuals working with other anti-revolution terror outfits.

In May, the Ministry underlined that 49 MKO terrorists had been arrested for actively propagating fake news, inciting the rioters to organize acts of terror and destruction, directing slogans, and being present on the streets to damage public property.

Members of the infamous MKO terrorist group are able to operate in the United States and Europe and have even held large gatherings in front of prominent American, European, and Saudi authorities.

Unsurprisingly, the MKO has been deliberately portrayed as an "Iranian opposition group" by Western media outlets.