Iran arrests terrorist ringleader Abdolmalek Rigi

Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi said the Iranian security forces captured the terrorist group leader in Iran’s airspace.

“Through a precise and splendid maneuver and intelligence management,” the security forces “were able to capture this evil person in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s sky,” Moslehi told reporters at a press conference.

Intelligence sources told the Mehr News Agency that Rigi was detained on board a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Kyrgyzstan. The plane landed at Bandar Abbas Airport, where Rigi and his aide were arrested, the sources added. Later, the plane was allowed to continue its flight to Kyrgyzstan.

“Following proper coordination between the Iranian Intelligence Ministry and the country’s aviation authorities, the plane was forced to land when it entered Iran’s airspace,” an informed source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the national television network Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

The source said Rigi had intended to travel to Kyrgyzstan from the UAE on board the plane using a false name and identification documents.

Earlier on Tuesday, Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said Rigi was captured outside the country and brought to Iran.

“This evil person, who took orders from intelligence agents of foreign countries, was captured… outside the country,” the interior minister told reporters in Birjand, a town in eastern Iran.

Mohammad-Najjar added, “Abdolmalek Rigi intended to travel from one place to another place to plan a new evil act,” but was captured by Iranian security and intelligence forces.

The Jundullah terrorist group, also known as the Rigi group, has conducted a series of deadly terrorist acts in eastern Iran.

The group, led by Abdolmalek Rigi, claimed responsibility for an attack that killed over 40 people, including five senior commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan on October 18.

Jundullah terrorists regularly cross into Iran from their hideouts in neighboring Pakistan to attack civilians and police officers.

The intelligence minister called the capture of the Jundullah leader a “great success and a great victory” for the Iranian nation.

Moslehi showed documents to reporters, including a photo showing Rigi was at a U.S. military base in Afghanistan 24 hours before he was captured.  

He also showed reporters a pass card allowing Rigi to enter Pakistan and also an Afghan passport provided to him by U.S. operatives.

In addition, the intelligence minister showed them a passport issued by the UAE for the accomplice accompanying Rigi.

Moslehi said Iran had asked the intelligence services of Britain, the U.S., and certain other countries to cooperate with Iran in efforts to capture the terrorist, but they refused.

“The capture of Rigi without the help of foreign intelligence services demonstrated the power of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he added.

PA/HG

END

MNA