Report: Israel Embassy detains 'suspicious' Iranian in Kathmandu
Nepalese newspapers say security personnel at Israeli Embassy arrested Iranian who allegedly gathered intel on facility; probe finds he obtained fake Israeli passport in Malaysia; police suspect he planned terror attack on Israeli target
Security personnel at the Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal recently arrested an Iranian national who was allegedly carrying out suspicious activities outside the facility, The Himalayan reported. The suspect was transferred by the Israelis to the custody of local police.
The Annapurna Post reported that the arrest was made on April 13. It identified the suspect as Mohsin Khosravian.
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According to the newspaper, security officials at the Embassy speculated that the suspect was scouting the facility in order to gather intelligence and was carrying a map of the Lazimpat area, where the Israeli mission is located.
The suspect, who stayed in a Thamel-based hotel, told police that he had ventured out to find a shop to repair his laptop, the Annapurna Post reported.
According to the report, the Nepal Police's Central Bureau of Investigation and Special Bureau have launched investigation into his activities and possible terrorist links in the wake of his "frequent and suspicious visits" to the Israeli Embassy area.
Israelis celebrate Pesach in Kathmandu (Achive photo: AFP)
Moreover, it has been revealed that the suspect hid his Iranian passport (P 95434382) and used a fake Israeli passport (14517227) - issued in the name of Alexander - to obtain the 'on arrival' visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport on April 3.
According to reports in Nepal, the suspect has been living in Bangkok since 2004 and married to a Thai woman for five years.
The Annapurna Post said his wife and two of his Iranian relatives arrived in Kathmandu from Bangkok on Friday to meet him.
Mohsin has maintained that after facing losses in his garment business he entered Nepal with the intention of going to Europe to seek asylum there.
The investigation has found out that he had used his original passport to enter Malaysia on March 31. He apparently acquired the fake Israeli passport in Kuala Lumpur, and recently visited Sri Lanka as well.
Nepalese police believe the Iranians planned to carry out a terror attack against an Israeli element at the Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu or against or against other Israelis in the capital.
According to the records at Kathmandu District Administration, Mohsin has been charged under the Public Offence Act.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have boiled over in recent years. On February 13, 2012 a car bomb exploded outside Israel's embassy in the Indian capital of New Delhi, while another bomb was neutralized at the Israeli Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia. Israel immediately accused Iran of plotting the attacks.
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