Iran-supported killer gangs are marking British Jews for potential assassination plots | CPT PPP Coverage

British Jewish are being spied on by organised criminal gangs hired by Iran and targeted for potential assassination, the Security minister has warned.

Tom Tugendhat confirmed reports that high-profile members of the Jewish community were being tracked as revenge killings by Tehran.

This follows a report from the Jewish Chronicle that detailed how the Iranian regime was ‘mapping’ Jewish in the UK as murder targets should Israel launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Mr Tugendhat has since confirmed the report and said British intelligence was keeping a close eye on the regime’s agents.

He said Iran was backing organised criminal gangs in Britain to carry out its surveillance.

The security minister, who is responsible for MI5, told The Jewish Chronicle: ‘We have very clear intelligence about the activities of hostile regimes in the UK and we keep a very close eye on what their agents and those close to them are doing.

‘We know that the Iranians are using non-traditional sources to carry out these operations, including organised criminal gangs.

‘They are paying criminal gangs to conduct surveillance.

Mr Tugendhat added: ‘Basically, the Iranians are using crooks based in Britain to spy for them.

‘You can be very clear that I wouldn’t have mentioned Jewish and Israeli targets unless I had good reason to do so.

‘I take all threats against anyone in the UK very seriously and the reason I highlighted Israelis and the Jewish community is that we have been seeing threats and Iranian operational activity directed against them. I do not issue these warnings lightly.’

Mr Tugendhat did not give further precise details of his intelligence but said Iran was conducting these operations in Britain and other Western countries.

The security minister’s comments will likely fuel debate within government as to whether Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) should be described by the UK as a terrorist group – as is the case in the US.

Mr Tugendhat reportedly believes IRGC should be prescribed the identification, but that Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is against the plans amid concerns about keeping communication channels open with the Iranian regime.

Prescription as a terrorist group would make it a criminal offence in the UK to be a member, encourage support for, or provide funds for the group. 

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