Iran Analysis: Taking Apart the "Iranian Terror Cell in Nigeria" Story
Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 7:42
The State Security Service announced the arrests in a press conference, featuring the three suspects "on parade" before the media. The main suspect, Abdullahi Berende, gave a confession:
[He] told journalists that he was employed by “people who were ready to capitalise on my weakness", though he denied being part of a terrorist network....He regretted “betraying my country”, adding that his [Iranian] handler whom he referred to as Amir, preyed on his weakness.
He denied working for any international or local terror network, adding that his handler only requested him to get information on American and Israeli targets in Lagos.
So who are the Iranians? The report of the press conference gives no further clues: "Attempts to reach the Iranian Embassy for comments on Wednesday were unsuccessful."