ATTEMPTED BOMBING OF IRANIAN OPPOSITION IN PARIS

Early day motion 1525, tabled 16 July 2018 by Bob Blackman (Conservative). Signed by 75 members.

That this House strongly condemns the attempted bombing at the gathering of the Iranian opposition in Paris, Free Iran - The Altemative; notes Belgian prosecutors have announced that two Belgian nationals of Iranian origin were charged with attempted terrorist murder and the preparation of a terrorist offence and both are suspected of wanting to commit a bomb attack in Villepinte, France, on 30 June 2018 at a conference held there by the MEK, the People's Mojaheclin of Iran (MEK/PMOI); further notes Assadollah Assadi an Iranian diplomat based in Vienna, was charged in Belgium and Germany in connection with the plot and arrested in Germany; notes the German prosecutors' statement that Assadi gave the couple the bomb to be used; notes a senior US State Department official stated that Iran is responsible for the plot; strongly condemns Iran's regime over its terrorist activities in Europe and misuse of diplomatic privileges; reiterates the need to try the suspects and expel other Iranian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover or as ex-members of the opposition; calls for a robust policy to confront Iran's malign activities; and reiterates this incident demonstrates the regime's fear of the MEK/PMOI and National Council of Resistance of Iran coalition as the democratic alternative to its rule.

Signatures by party: Labour 36, Conservative 19, Scottish National Party 6, DUP 5, Liberal Democrat 5, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 1.