Memorial at Newtown, Connecticut
Photo: Reuters
Iran: Newtown massacre was Israeli conspiracy
Tehran news website quotes 'expert' alleging horrific Connecticut shooting that claimed lives of 20 children, six adults was Israeli scheme meant to exert revenge on US following 'humiliation at UN'
"The Newtown massacre was the result of an Israeli conspiracy" an Iranian news website proclaimed Tuesday.
The United States is still reeling from the murderous rampage that left 20 children and six adults dead in Newtown, Connecticut, on Friday. Tehran – which on Sunday offered its condolences to the victims and their families – is now promoting an alternative explanation to the horrific event.
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Iran's Press TV website quoted Michael Harris, former Republican candidate for governor of Arizona and GOP campaign finance chairman, as saying that "An Israeli death squad was involved in the Sandy Hook shooting."
According to the report, Harris called the Newtown tragedy a "terrorist attack," adding that it was "Israel's revenge" and that it was meant to "teach the US lesson," following the Palestinian's status upgrade in the UN.
According to the report, the shooter, Adam Lazna, was meant to be the scapegoat.
President Obama speaking at Newtown vigil
Press TV failed to note where Harris was interviewed. The website also dubbed him an "intelligence analyst," but the GOP member has no known ties to the intelligence community in the US.
The report further quoted him as linking the Connecticut incident to Anders Behring Breivik's murderous spree in Norway, in 2011.
"This is exactly what Israel did in Norway; the political party that voted for sanctions against Israel was retaliated against by a 'lone gunman' who killed 77 children.
"This is what Israel always does, they go after the children… The same thing happened at Sandy Hook. Nobody buys the lone gunman story anymore, not with the Gabby Giffords’ shooting, not with the Aurora 'Batman' shooting, certainly not with Breveik, and certainly not in Connecticut," he said.
Harris, reportedly citing the "numerous inconsistencies" in the shooting's "cover story," said that "This is another case where Israel has chosen violence and terrorism where their bullying in Washington has failed."
The children killed in Newtown (Photo: Reuters)
Press TV further quoted him as saying that "Israel believes the United States threw them under the bus" in the wake of the "humiliation suffered" during Operation Pillar of Defense and the Palestinians' success in the US.
The Iranian news website said that the Republican official further called the shooting "a signature attack by Israel," saying it was "reminiscent of the attacks that killed so many children in Gaza."
Press TV is considered a dubious source, at best, for both domestic and international affairs, as it is a known vehicle of the Iranian regime.
The news website often targets Israel, taking every opportunity to try and drive a wedge between Jerusalem and the international community by using defense, security and intelligence "experts."
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