New Video Released of Arson at Mosque

A day after the commander of Tehran's police announced that the perpetrators of the arson at the "Javad al-Aimah" mosque in Tehran had been arrested, a video has surfaced online showing the burning of the door of a mosque named "Ali ibn Abi Talib," reportedly located in the city of Tabriz. Hossein Rahimi, the head of Tehran's police, told the media on Wednesday that the arson at a mosque in Tehran and attacks on several banks were carried out by a group of youths "influenced by social media and satellite channels." In the video released on Thursday evening, an unidentified individual first writes the phrase "Restart" on the mosque's wall and then sets fire to the door labeled "Mosque of Ali ibn Abi Talib" using flammable materials. The video ends with the slogan "Long Live Hosseini." Mohammad Hosseini, a former host of Iranian state TV programs and comedian who has been living abroad for several years, has formed a campaign called "Restart," calling for attacks on institutions such as banks, mosques, and Basij bases. He has stated that the aim of these actions is to seek regime change in the Islamic Republic. In recent days, videos have surfaced online showing the breaking of windows at several banks and attacks on ATMs. The Young Journalists Club website, affiliated with state TV, published a video on Tuesday, October 10, showing the arson at the "Javad al-Aimah" mosque on Independence Boulevard in eastern Tehran. On Wednesday, October 11, the head of Tehran's police announced the arrest of those responsible for the arson at the Javad al-Aimah mosque while rejecting rumors linking the arrested individuals to what are referred to as "Satanic groups." General Rahimi added that the arrested individuals acted under the influence and training of certain foreign satellite programs and channels. So far, no details have been released about the arrested individuals. The Tehran police chief further stated that the attack on this mosque, like the recent attack on several banks, was carried out by "a group of youths" and "under the influence of social media." On Tuesday, he had stated that the attack on several banks was "influenced by the suggestions of a satellite network." He also mentioned on Sunday, June 6, that five of the attackers on several banks had been arrested. The Tehran police chief declared that these actions are "not security-related."