Brussels, 21/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 21 October, the EU Council of Ministers adopted restrictive measures aimed at combating terrorism against five persons who are said to have a link with a foiled plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the US. The identity of the five people has not been revealed but, according to a diplomatic source cited by AFP, they are five Iranians: an Irano-American arrested in the United States, Manssor Arbabsiar; his accomplice, Ali Gholam Shakuri, who is said to belong to the special forces of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution; and three members of that unit - its commander, Qasem Sleimani; a senior officer, Hamed Abdollahi; and another officer, Abdul Reza Shahlai.
The financial assets of the above will be frozen and “no funds may be made available to them”, the Council press release states, going on to add: “member states will afford each other the widest possible assistance with respect to enquiries related to these individuals”.
Another person was withdrawn from the list of people subject to restrictive measures, as it was felt it was no longer justified to keep that person on the list. The decision and the information on those concerned will be published in the EU Official Journal on Saturday 22 October.
These measures come as a US federal court charged Manssor Arbabsiar and Ali Gholam Shakuri of plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington. (CG/transl.jl)