International terrorist attacks prompt allegations against Iran

The premature detonation of an explosive device in a rented apartment in the Thai capital of Bangkok on 14 February exposed an alleged plot by three apparent Iranian nationals to carry out an assassination campaign, believed by Israel to be against its nationals. One of the suspects was detained at the scene after wounding himself while detonating two more explosive devices, and two other suspects were detained separately as they fled the country.

The attack followed two incidents the previous day. In the Indian capital of New Delhi, Tal Yehoshua Koren, the wife of the Israeli defence attaché, was wounded when an explosive device targeted her vehicle. Meanwhile, in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, an explosive device was discovered underneath the vehicle of a local driver at the Israeli embassy and defused.

Israel immediately claimed the attacks were linked, and accused Iran of being behind them - a charge Tehran denied. However, Iran, or an allied militant group such as the Lebanon-based Hizbullah, remains the prime suspect. In addition to the reported Iranian nationality of the Bangkok detainees, Iran had recently threatened to avenge a series of unexplained attacks on personnel connected with its nuclear programme, which it blamed on Israel and its allies.

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