A Pakistani man, Asif Merchant, allegedly linked to Iran, has been charged in the US for plotting to assassinate a US politician or government officials. This scheme was reportedly in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s top commander, Qassem Soleimani, in 2020.
Merchant, accused of trying to recruit individuals in the US, was arrested for murder for hire in New York. The Justice Department believes he spent time in Iran before arriving in the US.
Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted the department’s efforts to combat Iran’s retaliations. FBI investigations suggest that former President Donald Trump and other officials were the intended targets.
The court documents do not mention specific targets, but Merchant mentioned tight security around one target. The Justice Department and Trump’s campaign have not commented on the case.
Published 06 August 2024, 19:46 IST
[ad_2]
Source link
