BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) — Jewish leaders and security officials came to Buenos Aires to hear a report on Iran’s infiltration of Latin America from its author, the prosecutor in the AMIA Jewish center bombing.
Alberto Nisman spoke Tuesday night on the eve of the commemoration of the 19th anniversary of the attack, which killed 85 and injured more than 300. The program was organized by the Latin American Jewish Congress, part of the World Jewish Congress.
Nisman’s report maintains that Iran has infiltrated several South American countries through the installation of intelligence cells.
He has indicted former and current officials of Iran for their alleged involvement in the bombing, leading Interpol to issue arrest warrants for them.
Chile and Argentina have suspect Islamist “activities” in their countries, the prosecutor in the AMIA bombing case said.
“We searched the evidence in the Buenos Aires attack and we discovered an active terrorist network with a strong presence in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and especially in the triple border of these countries in the city of Foz do Iguazu, which also is located in Chile, Colombia and Guyana,” he said.
Security officials from Chile asked Nisman about Islamic suspect activities in the city of Puerto Montt, and Argentinian Jewish leaders asked about Tucuman in their country.
“In both cases there are activities, but I cannot disclose details because we are investigating,” Nisman said. “But security forces also know about the dangers there.”
Two weeks ago, Argentinian Prosecutor General Alejandra Gils Carbo blocked Nisman from testifying at the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Homeland Security hearing on “Iran’s Extending Influence in the Western Hemisphere.” Tuesday’s event allowed Nisman to showcase his findings to Jewish leaders, members of security agencies, politicians and journalists.
The main commemoration of the bombing will be staged at the rebuilt AMIA headquarters on Thursday at 9:53 a.m. — the exact time that a bomb was detonated on the site on July 18, 1994.
The commemoration theme this year is “19 years, the wound is still open.”
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