Iran Denies Involvement in Canada Train Terror Plot

Iran is firmly denying police accusations of involvement on the plot of a terrorist attack on a Canadian passenger train.

A US official told CNN the initial plan of the suspects was to plant explosives on the bridge where the train would pass and detonate them after the train has crossed the US border to Canada. Once the plan was carried out, the official said, the train would have fallen off track, killing passengers and bystanders alike.

The attack never happened as suspects are now appearing in court after having been arrested in separate raids.

Authorities claim the two suspects – Chiheb Esseghaier, 30 and Raed Jaser, 35, have been supported by al-Queda members in Iran but they say there is no indication the planned attack was state-sponsored.

According to initial investigation, Esseghaier is from Tunisia and Jaser is from the United Arab Emirates.

Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said there is no clear and strong evidence of Iranian involvement in the terror plot. He also said groups such as the al-Queda have no connection with “both the political and ideological fields” of Iran.

In a statement made by Iran Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to Fars News Agency, allegations of al-Queda elements in Iran are only “sheer and scandalous” lies.

Sources: cnn.com, aljazeera.com, foxnews.com