Report: Hezbollah tried to kill Israeli consul
Shiite group, not PKK, was behind Istanbul terror attack last May, Italian newspaper reports. Working on behalf of Iran, group tried to assassinate Consul Moshe Kimchi
Italian newspaper Corierre della Sera reported Monday that current estimates indicate that Hezbollah was behind a terror attack in Istanbul last May which left eight people wounded. The attack was thought to be the work of the PKK at the time.
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According to the Italian report, Hezbollah's target was Israeli consul in Turkey Moshe Kimchi.
Quoting Washington sources, the paper said the attack was meant to avenge the death of Iranian nuclear scientist Masoud Ali Mohammadi who was killed last year. Iran claims the Mossad was behind the hit.
Scene of terror attack in Istanbul (Photo: EPA)
Turkish intelligence first attributed the Istanbul attack, days before national elections, to the Kurdish resistance, but later concluded that Hezbollah, working on behalf of Iran, had organized it.
According to the report, three Hezbollah operatives arrived in Istanbul from Beirut to assassinate Kimchi. They followed his daily route from his home to the consulate and then placed an explosive device. However, on the day of the attack the consul's driver drove particularly slow and therefore saved Kimchi's life.
Turkish intelligence sources denied the report, saying that "Israel is in the habit of creating disinformation campaigns using different papers."
Eight people were hurt in the attack, but no group claimed responsibility for it. The Istanbul police chief said an explosive device was placed on an electric bicycle near a police cadet school. The device was placed near a bus stop adjacent to a shopping center.
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