Iran's Ties to European Criminals: A New Threat
An investigation by the BBC reveals that the Iranian regime has established partnerships with European criminal networks, including the Swedish 'Fox' network, to outsource political assassinations. The network recruits teenagers via social media, promising money but not paying. Europol has created a task force, OTF GRIMM, involving 11 countries to combat this threat.
The Iranian regime is actively using European criminal groups to carry out political assassinations and attacks, according to a BBC investigation cited by the Israeli publication Maariv. A key figure is the Swedish 'Fox' network, whose leader, Rawa Majid, fled Sweden and found refuge in Iran, offering his services in exchange for protection. The network carries out orders from Iranian intelligence against dissidents, journalists, and Israeli targets in Europe. It is blamed for a grenade attack on the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen and about 35 contract killings since 2022. Recruitment of at-risk teenagers is done via social media, using pseudonyms like 'Agent 47' and encrypted messengers. Organizers promise large sums but do not pay the perpetrators. An example is 18-year-old Norwegian Johannes Netland, arrested in the UK before carrying out a mission. In response, Europol has created a task force, OTF GRIMM, involving 11 countries, including the UK, Sweden, France, Germany, and Norway.