An Iranian intelligence officer and three alleged members of an Iranian intelligence network have been charged in Manhattan with plotting to lure a U.S.-based journalist and human rights activist from New York to Iran, authorities said Tuesday. The rest of the defendants are fugitives believed to be based in Iran, authorities said. "We allege a group, backed by the Iranian government, conspired to kidnap a U.S.-based journalist here on our soil and forcibly return her to Iran. Private investigators allegedly hiredThe Iranian intelligence officer, who remains a fugitive, was identified as Alireza Shavaroghi Farahani. Those individuals, the indictment said, were captured by Iranian intelligence authorities.

Source: CBC News July 14, 2021 02:20 UTC