Ahmadinejad convoy attacked in suspected assassination attempt
Conservative Iranian website says handmade grenade explodes near Iranian president's convoy; official news agency says 'just a firecracker'
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news Mahmoud Ahmadinejad IranIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was unharmed by an attack with a homemade explosive device on his motorcade during a visit to the western city of
Hamadan on Wednesday, a source in his office said.
 |
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waving to the media in Tehran on May 18, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
The source said Ahmadinejad's convoy was targeted as he was travelling from Hamadan's airport to give a speech in a local sports arena. The president was unhurt but others were injured in the blast. One person was arrested.
"There was an attack this morning. Nothing happened to the president's car," the source told Reuters. "Investigations continue ... to find out who was behind it."
Iran's official news agency however said Wednesday that the explosion was caused by an excited fan setting off fireworks, denying the reports of an assassination attempt.
"A fan set off a firecracker similar to those used during sports matches to express his excitement at Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to the western Iranian town of Hamedan," reported IRNA news agency.
Ahmadinejad, who has cracked down on opposition since a disputed June 2009 presidential election, appeared on live Iranian television at the sports stadium in Hamadan. He was apparently well and made no mention of any assault.
The populist, hardline Ahmadinejad has accumulated enemies in conservative and reformist circles in the Islamic Republic as well as abroad.
Al Arabiya television said an attacker had thrown a bomb at Ahmadinejad's convoy before being detained. Dubai-based Al Arabiya cited its own sources as saying the bomb had hit a car carrying journalists and presidential staff.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
On Monday, during a speech to a conference of expatriate Iranians in Tehran, Ahmadinejad said he believed he was the target of an assassination plot by Israel. "The stupid Zionists have hired mercenaries to assassinate me," he said.
Ahmadinejad's government is facing economic pain as new foreign sanctions imposed over Iran's disputed nuclear energy program bite on the world's fifth biggest oil exporter.
The reported attack comes after last month when at least 21 people, including members of the elite Revolutionary Guards, were killed and 100 wounded in two suicide attacks at a prominent Shi'ite Muslim mosque in the southeast Iranian city of Zahedan.
The Sunni Muslim rebel group Jundollah said it was behind the attacks, telling Al Arabiyeh television in an email that it had carried out the two bombings in retaliation for Iran's execution of the group's leader, Abdolmalek Rigi, in June.
Last year, Iran's intelligence minister accused Israel of conspiring to assassinate Ahmadinejad during last year's tumultuous election campaign,
According to AFP, Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie told state media in Iran that Israeli officials had met members of the People's Mujahedeen of Iran, an exiled opposition group, twice to plan Ahmadinejad's assassination.
"The Zionist regime had met with the [PMOI] on the sidelines of [a meeting in[ Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt and in Paris to assassinate Mr. Ahmadinejad," Ejeie said.
The intelligence minister said the group agreed to cooperate on condition that it be removed from a U.S. "terror black list," according to AFP.
"The enemies even approached the rebels in east of the country to achieve this aim," said Ejeie, who was referring to armed Sunni dissidents.
Last year, former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff and current minister for strategic affairs, Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon, was quoted as saying by an Australian newspaper that the West must consider all options necessary to stop Tehran's nuclear program, including assassinating Ahmadinejad.
An associate of Ya'alon said, however, that the former IDF chief's comments on the necessity of considering assassination were taken out of context.
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US and Israel are the problems of the worlds. no peace as long as they rule the world... end of story
In Iran they are preparing to hang Ahmadienjad on a lamp post. (see story of Haman. Persia) In Turkey those opposing Erdogan are planning to overthrow his Islamic regime...... Watch out for fireworks in the coming months in the ME.
In Iran they are preparing to hang Ahmadienjad on a lamp post. (see story of Haman. Persia) In Turkey those opposing Erdogan are planning to overthrow his Islamic regime...... Watch out for fireworks in the coming months in the ME.
The ugly rat escapes!!!
This will solve nothing. You can understand Iran feeling like it does with an Israeli stockpile of nuclear weapons pointed at it.... I used to suppoirt Israel...now I see they are the problem.
Not a mere firecracker ha? Lucky this time,but more to come your way Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, Be careful,or else..To think that people here think the rockets lobbed at Ashkelon and the other cities are supposed to be harmless?This should be PROOF TO THE DENIERS who think Hamas's rocketts at Shderot,Ashkelon,Negev are just innocuous FIRE CRACKERS that injure no one seriously .Ahmedinjacket should bear IN MIND this ha? I bet you he was trembling after the event...But putting a bave face to the outside world as is the custom of COWARDS..
Just want to say to some people who writin comment here,thank you for showin Haaretz readers you guys have no difference with TERRORISTS or their SUPPORTERS.
They caught him meaning he will be tortured to death for sure.
A note to reminder Mr. Ahmadenijad to remember, or, God will remember Ahmadenijad. WARS ARE A HUMAN CONSPERICY; NOT GOD’S… Somehow along the way the collective human mind --- slipped, and gotten lost not only in space but also in Time. Time IS timeless until we STOP and recount Timing once again. A cause for balance of body and soul. WARS are: A construct of an unbalanced collective human mind by separation of the Human Mind from the Mind of God, and by acquiring a mish-mash of languages and belief systems… MAN believes he’s in control and in he IS charge, but IS not. The collective human mind IS one with the MIND of GOD, including Allah’s (ALLAH Akbar; Sunny or Shiia. Both start with S, together makes it SS.) Peace or war is determined, precisely, whether the human mind is balanced or imbalanced. And? What’s the distance between sanity and insanity??
God raises up the evildoers first to emphasise their downfall is an act of Divie Providence. Pharaoh was the most powerful ruler of his age. Haman was raised from nothing to being viceroy before he fell. Spain, Germany, Russia were each at their height when they tried to destroy the Jewish people and each fell from its pre-eminent position. Ahmadinejad may become unofficial leader of the Islamic world, but only to make his downfall more dramatic.
If people like Ahmedinejat exist, they keep the status of victim for their propoganda.
As disgusting and vulgar as the little chimp is, he has one important virtue: he speaks his mind, rather than sugar coat. There is more to worry about if he croaks and gets replaced with someone with the same intentions, but smart enough to fool the world with nice diplomatic words.
Too bad the attack failed. Iran, in its current radical Islamic incarnation, represents the greatest threat to world peace of any nation. I sympathize with Irani citizens who are working for change, but I believe that we have every obligation to neutralize Iran's nuclear aspirations.
A little bit of throwing practice and then we could get him. And to those of you who want to put thumbs down to this. You are supporting a radical Islamist who is hardly supported by his own country. In fact not only is he trying to destabilize the entire region, but he actively supports the assault and killing of his own civilians. So you are stupid.
If Israel, or even the US, were going after assassinating somebody in Iran, it would have been the top Ayatollah Khamenei, not Ahmadinejad. The Ayatollah is a hardliner, and supports the nuclear project. Replacing him would give a chance for a more rational character to be boss in Iran. Ahmadinejad travels more, so he often more exposed to danger, but there is something to be said about hitting a "sitting duck" like Khamenei. The Sunis of Iran might see the light at some point.
The real fascists are the Ayatolas who rule the roost and use mahmoud as a moth piece.If they change a leader for a supposed liberal one,who's to say he will be all charming on the outside and LIKE A SNAKE ON THE INSIDE worse than Mamoud A. As someone here said and I agree.Hwever,the majority are Shiites and not Sunnies.Well didn't they go on protest marches during the fake election results? Who can one pick as an alternative to medinejad?Funny Islamists with their varied interpretations of their Quran..they kill ech other while the so-call faith( I call it CULT) OF PEACE is relegated to the DUST BIN..FUNNY PEOPLE MUSLIMS..
If Israel, or even the US, were going after assassinating somebody in Iran, it would have been the top Ayatollah Khamenei, not Ahmadinejad. The Ayatollah is a hardliner, and supports the nuclear project. Replacing him would give a chance for a more rational character to be boss in Iran. Ahmadinejad travels more, so he often more exposed to danger, but there is something to be said about hitting a "sitting duck" like Khamenei. The Sunis of Iran might see the light at some point.
He is a son of allah , has only cut his tongue .
The problem in Iran is not the president (they come and go), but the Supreme Leader. It bemuses me when Israel/USA/European direct their attack against Ahmadinejad (a mere token) instead of Khamenei (the real problem).
But that didn't stop him and his cronies from doing it, who says they wouldn't keep him in another term?
Hi. In a way you're right that (Ahmad) is a mere token. But just like a rat that gnaws under under the feet of the Mullahs,so this criminal goes on all fours to get approval from his masters.to spew hatred & lies throughout the ME.
Ahmad is attempting to limit the authority of the supreme leader and change the whole government balance. The problem is Khamenei it is the entire system.
better luck nest time, and use a larger explosive.
Will a nuclear winter in Iran cleanse your blood-thirst??? Israel has plenty of nukes...
He will be hanged by his own people
and well. He is one of the few leaders to stand against USRAEL aggression.
Just another "incident" organised by the bullies ruling Iran in order to scapegoat Israel and justify their horrible crimes against their own people.Only fools and their leftist do gooders politically stupid friends would believe this to be a real assasination attempt against Ahmadinajad
As he is still being badgered by the US on his nuclear ambition,perhaps he created a diversion ? Suprised NOT..Anything to get out FROM the pressure he is suffering from. The latest is LAUGH..asking Obama for a tete a tete confabulation? But I have yuet to hear Mahmoud speak in english..Funny lot these people when they give an interview it is always in their own language and an inerpreter at the ready,NO WONDER THEY SPEAK FROM BOTH SIDED OF THEIR MOUTHS ALL..HAM-ASS, NEJAD, NASTIRASLAH AND THE REST.And they want us to give them credence ESPECIALLY when we read what they really mean say..
Before I even read the article I knew he would be accusing Israel, and I was right. More likely, He planned it as a diversion from the nukes, or his own people do not want to be dragged into a war with Israel, and are trying to do something about it. The recent border incident being part of the diversion.
even though it was flase, how some people expressed so much happiness. I wonder if they were so happy when Rabin was killed.
Wishful thinking.
He is just too ugly!
Israel is lost. In the past we could have just come in and killed this animal. What happened?
Bumping off Ahmadinejad won't do anything but make the Iranians develop weapons faster.
South America used to be notoreous for its death squads where the ruler would order the assassination of his rivals. But today, assassinations seem to be the West's favourate tool for getting rid of their rivals. It is sad to see people who call themselves civilized resort to this type of extrajudicial execution when they calim that people are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This rule of the jungle will boomerang - sooner or later. The funny part is that they rush to form International Tribunals when the victim of such assassination is one of their own - Rafiq Harriri anyone?
Too bad that it failed otherwise the world would be a safer place.
He will get replaced with someone at least as bloodthirsty as him. What's worse, a new guy may be smarter and use diplomatic niceties to disguise their true intentions.
Look ! Can't you all make it out ? ...This was clearly an inside job by their intel. agency.to distract attention from their Nuclear agenda. Similar to the Nazis that set fire to the Reichstag,blaming the Communists....The rest is written in the Bloody Pages of German history.
Guess the Iranian government can not rap their heads around the idea, maybe that their own citizens want them dead and not the Israeli people. It seems the Iranian government propaganda machine working over time.
Never mind about Ahmadinijad history will take its course with him. Take a moment to rememeber those seven brave Czech men who in very similar circumstances got rid of Heydrich the Nazi butcher at the height of his power. Betrayed by one of their number they were holed up in a church in Prauge and resisted all attempts by the Nazis to get them. This was a story never to be forgotten and brings a tear to the eye of anyone who admires true courage and self sacrifice
Speaking to Press TV, an informed source in Iran's presidential office has rejected as false the reports of grenade attack on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Some foreign news sources published reports that a grenade exploded near the motorcade of President Ahmadinejad during his visit to the western city of Hamedan on Wednesday. The source denied the reports, saying no such attack took place.
Rjection of the news has been reaffirmed.
Hamadan is a town in a province that has a large Kurdish population. However this attack was against a mini-bus carrying journalists. It was a home-made grenade, the man threw it shouting "Death to the hypocrites", Mr.Ahmadinejad then gave his speech at the al Quds Stadium. Have a nice day.
It's there.
its to take away our attention to the lebanon, israeli tensions,
And you believe an "informed source in Iran's presidential office?" Even Ahmadinejad would laugh at that one.
That's it.
there are no gays in Iran. It's true. They say so.
The official Iranian govt notice says a fire cracker went off, no grenade or bomb. You have a choice and I know whom I believe. He almost got his 72 virgins.
But a witness to the incident told Al Jazeera that a teenager threw a fire-cracker that landed near the convoy. The witness said that the youth was taken away, but did not believe that it was a genuine assassination attempt. Al Jazeera's Alireza Ronaghi, reporting from Iran, said: "Presidential sources say a firecracker went off near Ahmadinejad's convoy. They deny it was anything bigger than that and say Ahmadinejad and his entourage are OK. "When I contacted the president's office in Tehran [the capital of Iran], officials vehemently denied any such incident," he said.
I pray that history not repeat itself.
How many millions has that Iranian killed so far? Hitler had the blood of a few millions on his hands when the officer blew up a suitcase bomb. Don't compare so easily.
Although von Stauffenberg attempted it in July 1944, when most of the victims of the Holocaust had already been murdered. But It could still have saved two or three million people between Jews in Auschwitz-Birkenau, all the conceptration camps and death marches, allied and German soldiers, and civilians in all of Europe. I too pray history doesn't repeat itself with this Hitler 2.0.
Remember Iraq and Saddam Hussein's mushroom cloud,you remember how he was to launch nukes into London?Oh wait,they NEVER FOUND ANY NUKES,IT WAS A LIE! I hope people do not fall for this nonsense again,Iran is no Nazi Germany,and you know it and stop this BS about the Holocaust!
Of course the comparison is far-fetched. But we are not yet at the bitter point where we have a perspective, like we do have with nazism. In 1937, you could have argued the same thing you do abouit Hitler, and it would have sounded rational. You now know 1939, 1941 or 1944. We can see the trajectory of this Iranian regime, and in particular, of Khamenei and Ahmadinbejad. And the trajectory isn't that terribly different from a fascist one in the 1930's. Nor are his comments.
The President of Iran is the greatest joke on earth. Hope that somebody will get rid of him soon! Better luck next time! Go ISRAEL. Greetings from Norway
It is sad that they failed to blow up this pies of shit
your moma is pies of shit.
He won't gp anywhere,Iran will have nuclear energy,and all this is lies,but you are stupid enough to believe them,I bet you believe in the tooth fairy,santa claus,saddam hussein's nukes(remember that,how that murderer Bush said it was true!-NOT),AND ISRAEL WANTS PEACE! You believe these fairy tales,ofcourse you are proud to believe in lies.
Whats the weather like in Lutz Farrokh. Maybe I will pop up and pay you a visit soon. Hows the slurpee business going.
There will be four assassination attempts to 4 Assian countries' leaders. After that, Third World War will start.
WHAT A PITY.......better luck next time
WHAT A PITY.......better luck next time, whit Netanyahu!
Weird to give a speech half a hour after they try to assassinate you...
Wonder if Iran will pin the blame on Israel with a nice confession and a list of current Israeli officials officers etc named as the people who ordered this. Iran's society is still very fractured after the election debacle, a war would unite the Iranian people and help in the return of the Mahdi. And as been reported Iran has now recieved the S-300 from Russia.
But, you're from Idiotville, so you entertain yourself by making up all sorts of ridiculous stories.
Its the same blaming game in Iran, as in Israel.
Wonder if Iran will pin the blame on Israel with a nice confession and a list of current Israeli officials officers etc named as the people who ordered this. Iran's society is still very fractured after the election debacle, a war would unite the Iranian people and help in the return of the Mahdi.
I am talking about what happened hollistically with what happened during and after the elections, to spout the list of what Ahmadinijad and his cromies did would just be booring and repetitive so yes debacle is a good choice of term. To support my wrgument that this may have been set up to unify Iranians behind Ahmedinijad. As the time for his presidency is running out, and I think he'll want to leave his mark on Israel before he leaves.
I am talking about what happened hollistically with what happened during and after the elections, to spout the list of what Ahmadinijad and his cromies did would just be booring and repetitive so yes debacle is a good choice of term. To support my wrgument that this may have been set up to unify Iranians behind Ahmedinijad. As the time for his presidency is running out, and I think he'll want to leave his mark on Israel before he leaves.
the iranian people, BTW linhate The hebrew people will see him come and GO. They are resiliante wheather you like or not.
why was irans president the aim and not it's spiritual leader? what i see is that someone wants a war! the question is who? israel must be very cautious in the comming days cause it seems to me that we got more enemies than we think we do.probably even within so called friends.
Don't blame the Zionists, A-D - you got enough locals who would love to see you meet a just end! Actually, we are quite happy with you - no one attracts more negative press than you! Plus you don't disguise your real intentions. Keep up the good work.
Sorry!
funny thing is, it may not ever be under the hand of an Israeli, but his own people.. Tick tock, tick tock...
mossad will carry it out or the israeli aided terrorists in Iran.
Thanks Hac, we can't wait fo this Madman to be gone.
Mossad -- the best thing to happen to the arab imagination since 1001 nights
Terrorism -- the best thing to happen to the Israeli and American imagination since Adam and Eve!
Terrorism -- the best thing to happen to the Israeli and American imagination since Adam and Eve!
Kudos to you, sincerely.