Six MKO terrorists charged over clashes with Albania police

Albanian prosecutors have charged six members of the anti-Iran  Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) following clashes between police and the terrorists in their camp near the town of Manze.

Local media reported on Wednesday that court officials in the nearby town of Durres charged the terrorists on several criminal counts for offenses related to the violation and destruction of police vehicles, disobeying police and court orders, as well as assault and battery of on-duty police officers. 

Clashes broke out on Tuesday when police entered the camp, known as Ashraf-3, near Manze, a small hill town some 30km west of Albania’s capital Tirana, to search the premises. 

In the meantime, police and prosecutors are carrying out further investigations in regard to the tensions with police and illegal activities carried out by MKO members within the camp.

Earlier, Albanian officials had issued a statement, saying the raid on the MKO camp left dozens of casualties, including members of the police.

An MKO mouthpiece was cited by AP as claiming one MKO terrorist was killed and 100 more injured in the operation. Albanian authorities, however, disputed the MKO's claim, saying the death was not caused by any police action.

Albania police raid anti-Iran MKO camp over terrorist acts

Police in Albania have raided a camp home to the anti-Iran terrorist cult of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO).

According to the statement released by the Albanian interior ministry, the Albanian police took control of the terrorists' base for an hour and inspected their office buildings and the unconventional electronic devices that were used in them.

Interior Minister Bledi Cuci and National Police Chief Muhamet Rrumbullaku, said on Tuesday the operation met with MKO resistance and left three dozen casualties, including 15 police officers and 21 members of the terrorist outfit.

Reports said six of the injured terrorists were in critical condition.

However, Cuci and Rrumbullaku said the police operation was carried out with “all the necessary care not to create any incident” and in accordance with a court order issued following reports of illegal activities by members of the group at the camp which consists of 127 buildings in an area of 40 hectares.

“In no case (was) the death of a person on Tuesday in the Mujahedin camp... caused by police forces,” Cuci said, adding that officers were awaiting a forensics report into the death of the man who was in his seventies.

Cuci strongly condemned the MKO’s “intolerable” violence against the host’s police officers doing their job.

Rrumbullaku said he was “indignant and offended” that MKO members had tried to block police officers from seizing a number of drones and illegal electronic devices housed in 17 buildings, and that their leaders did not cooperate with police.

Police raids MKO camp in Albania

One person died on Tuesday as police raided the compound of the anti-Iran MKO terrorist group near Tirana.

Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime office has opened an investigation into the MKO's illegal activities.

Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the group has carried out numerous terrorist attacks against Iranian officials and civilians, killing some 17,000 people.

Then, MKO terrorists moved to Iraq during the reign of Saddam Hussein, aiding the military dictator during the eight-year Iraqi imposed war on Iran, launching attacks against Iran. However, the terrorists eventually had to secure an agreement to move to Albania in the mid-2010s after the longtime ruler was ousted from power.

Albania is estimated to have been hosting some 3,000 members of the terrorist group since 2016.

'MKO a danger for host state'

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanani said on Wednesday that the cult is and will be a danger for its host country. 

"Due to their terrorist nature, the MKO will always be a danger to the security of its host country," he wrote in a post in the Persian language on his Twitter account. 

He said the Albanian officials ordered the raid on the camp due to the group's terrorist cyber activities, breaching a 2014 agreement with the Albanian government.

Iran says ‘intrinsically terrorist’ MKO poses constant threat to its hosts

Iran insists the terrorist nature of the Western-backed MKO will always remain a threat to the security of its host countries.

"This is why the Iraqi government expelled them and other governments refused to accept them. We hope the Albanian government makes up for its mistake in hosting this terrorist cult,” he tweeted on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, MKO urged the United States, which has in the past supported the group, to condemn Albania's raid on the camp.

The US government, however, responded this time by distancing itself from the terror cult.

In a comment to Fox News Digital a State Department spokesperson said Washington had been assured "all actions were conducted in accordance with applicable laws, including with regard to the protection of the rights and freedoms of all persons in Albania."

"We support the Government of Albania’s right to investigate any potential illegal activities within its territory," the spokesperson added.

MKO terrorists enjoy the freedom of activity in the US and Europe.

The terror group has been backed by a number of senior US officials over the years, including former Vice President Mike Pence, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former US National Security Advisor John Bolton, who participated in and gave speeches at events organized by the terrorists.

More than a decade ago, the United States and the European Union delisted the MKO as a terrorist organization.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk