The 'Marco Polo' Case; France Accuses Iranian Security Services of Plotting to Kill Jews in Europe

French officials have accused a detained couple of collaborating with the Islamic Republic's security agencies and attempting to kill Jews in Germany and France. The couple, identified as 34-year-old Abdul Karim and 33-year-old Sabrina, were arrested on May 4 (15 Ordibehesht) this year on charges of collaborating with a terrorist organization. Abdul Karim, who had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison for murder in Marseille and was conditionally released in 2023, is now recognized as the main operative of this terrorist group supported by the Islamic Republic. Investigations indicate that this group intended to attack employees of an Israeli security company in Paris as well as Israeli-German citizens in Munich and Berlin. Abdul Karim is also accused of traveling to Germany to identify target locations, but he denies these allegations, claiming he traveled only for shopping. French officials also hold this group responsible for planned arson attacks on four Israeli companies in southern France in late 2023 and early 2024. While in custody, Abdul Karim denied the charges, asserting that he only acted as an intermediary in Telegram communications between the main planner and other involved individuals. The French General Directorate for Internal Security has named this case 'Marco Polo' and stated that these actions reflect an increase in state terrorism activities and the pursuit of the Islamic Republic's policy of targeted killings in Europe, which has intensified with the onset of the war between Israel and Hamas. According to French security sources, the aim of these operations is to instill fear in Europe and target Jews and political opponents of the Islamic Republic on the continent. Iranian officials have also been accused of hiring criminals and drug trafficking leaders to carry out these attacks. This report comes as the news outlet 'Spiegel' reported on Thursday, September 6, that European intelligence agencies recently thwarted 'terrorist plans' by the Islamic Republic to attack Jewish sites and institutions in France and Germany. According to this report, the Islamic Republic of Iran has resorted to 'organized criminal groups' to attack Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe. Last month, Spiegel also reported that Mohammad Hadi Moftah, head of the Hamburg Islamic Center, received direct orders from Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Iranian government, one of which was the outline for the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7. German police raided the Hamburg Islamic Center and more than 50 affiliated centers early Wednesday, August 25, declaring their activities banned. The German Interior Minister stated, 'The Hamburg Islamic Center promotes extremist Islamist and totalitarian ideology in Germany, and its affiliates also support Hezbollah terrorists.' One month after the ban on the Hamburg Islamic Center's activities in Germany, a spokesperson for the Hamburg Ministry of Internal Security announced on Thursday, September 8, that the expulsion order for Mohammad Hadi Moftah, the head of this center, was issued and communicated to him this week. A Pakistani citizen has been accused of planning a terrorist attack in New York; he has links to ISIS. A 'terrorist' attack on a Jewish synagogue in southern France; Macron: The fight against anti-Semitism is a 'continuous battle.' The Israeli Defense Minister warned Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran about the country's 'unprecedented response.' Tensions in the Middle East; several foreign airlines canceled flights to Tel Aviv. A review of various scenarios regarding a potential confrontation between the Islamic Republic and Israel. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump condemned demonstrations in support of the terrorist group Hamas. Spiegel's report on the thwarting of the Islamic Republic's 'terrorist plans' against Jewish sites and institutions in Europe. Germany accused the Islamic Republic of involvement in a plot to attack a synagogue and summoned the Iranian embassy's chargé d'affaires. German police inspected the 'Hamburg Islamic Center' and dozens of its affiliated offices.