Officials in Kenya say that two Iranian agents who were arrested in June with explosives planned to attack Israeli, American, British or Saudi Arabian targets inside Kenya.
The officials said Monday that the plot appears to fit into a global pattern of attacks or attempted attacks by Iranian agents, mostly against Israeli interests.
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Kenyan security forces arrested the Iranians in June and were led to 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of RDX, a powerful explosive, in the coastal city of Mombasa. Several hotels on the coast are Israeli-owned.
One official said the Iranians are members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, an elite and secretive unit. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing security issues.
Last week, one of two suspects claimed he was interrogated by Israeli agents while in detention.
Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammad also told a Kenyan court that the Israeli agent tortured and injected him with chemicals without his consent.
Police prosecutor Daniel Musangi denied the accusations that suspects were tortured. Magistrate Paul Biwott said the allegations were serious and ordered an investigation.
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