French raid Iran group, 150 held
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Police used explosives to blast down some doors in the raid, sources said.
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PARIS, France -- More than 150 were held after an anti-terrorism raid in France on the offices of an Iranian opposition group by 1,000 police, officials said. Also seized was $1.3 million in cash.
The heavily armed forces and national security officials targeted members of the People's Mujahedeen of Iran, an Iranian opposition group based in many cities around the world and listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
Tuesday's operation against the group -- the political wing of the Iraq-based Mujahedeen Khalq, which is fighting the hard-line clerical government in Tehran -- came as protests continued in the Iranian capital against the country's leadership. (Full story)
Anti-terrorist investigating judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere ordered Tuesday's raids on the grounds of possible "conspiracy to prepare acts of terrorism," the Interior Ministry said.
Police used explosives to blast down some doors in the raids on 13 sites in Val d'Oise and Yvelines to the north and west of Paris, The Associated Press quoted one unnamed police investigator as saying.
Large quantities of computer and "ultra-sophisticated transmission systems" were found in the operation, the investigator added.
This was the first time since the EU declared the People's Mujahedeen a terrorist group in 2002 that French authorities have moved to detain members.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
