Five British MPs were among thousands who narrowly escaped a terror plot at a rally in Paris two years ago, allegedly orchestrated by an Iranian diplomat. The plot was foiled when a bomb was discovered in the car of a couple arrested in Brussels.
The MPs present at the Free Iran Rally on June 30, 2018, included Conservatives Bob Blackman, Matthew Offord, Theresa Villiers, Sir David Amess, and Labour's Roger Godsiff, according to the register of interests and reports.
The couple, Amir Saadouni and Nasimeh Naami, are set to stand trial in Antwerp alongside two Iranian citizens, including diplomat Assadollah Assadi. Court documents allege Assadi acted on orders from Iranian authorities, smuggling explosives into Europe on a commercial flight and handing the bomb to the couple in a Pizza Hut in Luxembourg.
Bob Blackman told the Sun: 'For the first time in history, an accredited diplomat is about to face trial on terrorism charges in Europe.' He noted that around 100,000 Iranians and hundreds of international dignitaries attended the rally. 'Had the plot succeeded, it would have been the deadliest terror operation ever carried out in Europe,' he added, warning that World War Three could have been triggered.
Belgian police, tipped off about a potential attack on the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK) rally, found 550g of explosive and a detonator in the couple's Mercedes car.
