Iranian security forces arrest ringleader of terrorist group
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The ringleader, whose identity has not been disclosed, held a senior position within the Ansar al-Furqan terrorist organization.
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A photo showing Iranian security forces during a parade. (Fars news agency)
The Iranian security forces arrested Saturday the ringleader of a terrorist group in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
The news agency cited Doostali Jalilian, the provincial police chief, as saying that the ringleader, whose identity has not been disclosed, held a senior position within the Ansar al-Furqan terrorist organization and was captured in the provincial capital city of Zahedan.
According to IRNA, Jalil Qanbarzehi, the leader of the terrorist group, was killed in June 2017, by Iranian forces during an operation in the Qasr-e Qand region of Sistan and Baluchestan.
Qanbarzehi assumed leadership of Ansar al-Furqan following the death of his predecessor, Hesham Azizi, who was also killed by Iranian security forces in late April 2015 after a successful operation in the southern Baftan region of the province.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian security forces arrested a senior operative of ISIS and two other members planning a suicide attack during next week's celebrations, which mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
According to police, Mohammad Zaker, or "Ramesh", and the other two were arrested in Karaj, west of the capital Tehran after clashes.
The terrorist organization claimed responsibility for two explosions that took place in January at a memorial marking the fourth anniversary of the assassination of top commander Qassem Soleimani, leaving 100 people killed and dozens wounded.
Just last week, Iranian media, citing Iranian security, reported the arrests of two takfiri terrorists in an infiltration attempt into a holy shrine in the city of Qom.
Iranian security forces belonging to the Ali Ibn Abi Talib Intelligence Corps reportedly successfully foiled an infiltration attempt into the shrine of Fatima Al-Maasoumah and captured the perpetrators, two ISIS-Khorasan members.
