Ethiopian authorities have arrested 16 members of an Iranian cell who are suspected of planning an attack against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) embassy in Addis Ababa.
Explosives and documents were reportedly seized from the house of one suspect and a Swedish resident was arrested by Swedish security forces. Sweden and Ethiopia are believed to have been exchanging information in order to foil the attack.
An attack on the UAE embassy in Khartoum was reportedly also foiled by the Ethiopian intelligence service and Sudanese authorities.
The Israeli embassy in Ethiopia and embassies around the world have been on high alert after Iran threatened revenge following the assassination of senior Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in November 2020.
Last Friday, an explosion reportedly caused by a small improvised device damaged cars outside the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, but did not cause any injuries.
A terror group called Jaish-ul-Hind, reportedly affiliated with Iran, took responsibility for the attack in a letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador found by investigators, according to Indian media reports.
The Indian Express newspaper claimed that the letter described the blast as a “trailer”. “We can end your life, anytime, anywhere”, the letter reportedly read.
Israel is increasing security at its embassies around the world following the incident.
