Latest news with #RawaMajid
Al Arabiya
04-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
Notorious Swedish crime boss arrested in Turkey: Police
The head of one of Sweden's biggest crime organizations, accused of instigating a surge in violent crime, has been arrested in Turkey, Swedish police said on Friday. Police did not identify the man by name but Swedish media named him as 35-year-old Ismail Abdo, head of the Rumba crime organization and alleged to have been orchestrating operations from abroad. Abdo is one of Sweden's most wanted criminals and the subject of an international arrest warrant since 2024. The Scandinavian country, once known for its low crime rates, has struggled for years to rein in organized crime. Criminal networks are involved in drug and arms trafficking, welfare fraud, and regular shootings and bombings that have plagued the country in recent years. The networks are also reported to have infiltrated Sweden's welfare sector, local politics, legal and education system as well as juvenile detention care. Police say the leaders of the criminal networks increasingly operate from abroad, orchestrating murders and attacks via social media and often recruiting young children under the age of criminal responsibility to carry out the attacks. Abdo once led the Foxtrot crime network together with Rawa Majid -- Sweden's other most wanted criminal -- and the two are suspected of having controlled large parts of the Swedish drug market. But the pair fell out in 2023, and a wave of ruthless, escalating violence was triggered when Abdo's mother was shot dead in September 2023 in an act of revenge. Abdo's Rumba gang has since waged a violent feud against Majid and Foxtrot. Abdo was arrested in a raid conducted by Turkish security forces, police said. 'In a law enforcement operation in Turkey, Turkish police have today arrested a Swedish man who for many years has been suspected of drug-related crimes and instigating serious violent crimes in Sweden,' police said in a statement. 'The arrest is the result of targeted work over time between Turkish and Swedish judicial systems,' Mats Berggren, acting deputy chief at the Swedish police's National Operations Department (NOA), said in the statement. According to global database Statista, Sweden had the third highest number of homicides involving firearms per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe in 2022, behind Montenegro and Albania. Data from Sweden's National Council for Crime Prevention show that shootings have declined since the peak year 2022 but the number of explosions have increased.
The National
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
How Iran's 'hybrid attack' network could retaliate against Israel in Europe
Iran can call on networks of criminals and even its own agents smuggled into Europe as migrants to carry out retaliatory attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets, following Friday's strikes by Israel. Tehran has previously relied on regional allies Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas to attack Israel. However, with what Tehran called its 'ring of fire' degraded, it has other avenues further afield, particularly in Europe, to hit back against Israel. These include criminals networks, most notably two based in Sweden run by Kurdish gangsters Rawa Majid and Ismail Abdo, that have been accused of carrying out attacks on Israeli targets. Majid, who is nicknamed the Kurdish Fox, and his Foxtrot network were placed under sanctions by the US and the UK this year for orchestrating an attack on the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm. Three Iranian nationals were recently charged in the UK with a plot to attack an individual on behalf of Iran. An official report released in Germany on Tuesday warned that the potential threat from Iran is growing. The findings, which summarised trends in 2024, said Iranian intelligence services can be assumed to be ready to 'pursue the interests of the country's leadership by all means – including acts of violence and even assassinations'. 'The tense security situation in the Middle East and internal tensions within the Islamic Republic of Iran shape its intelligence activities,' the Ministry of Interior document said. 'Activities directed against Germany continue to emanate primarily from the Ministry of Intelligence or MOIS. In addition to the MOIS, the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which also operates as an intelligence agency, is also active in Germany. 'Intelligence services of the Islamic Republic of Iran also use state terrorist means to achieve their goals,' it added. 'This primarily involves the intimidation and neutralisation of opposition members, but also the punishment of 'traitors' or 'defectors'. 'Iran's activities go well beyond spying on the opposition Iranian diaspora and that pro-Jewish and pro-Israeli interests and institutions in Germany are the focus of Iranian activities.' Jason Brodsky, policy director of advocacy group United Against a Nuclear Iran, told The National that European nations need to be 'extra vigilant and step up alerts' given that Iran 'has long planned contingency plans for terror operations in the West'. 'That's a risk that everyone should be alert for, especially Israel and the Jewish community, and Iran still retains that capability through the IRGC or its intelligence ministry,' Mr Brodsky said. 'They will also hire criminal networks to foment terror and undertake operations. And there are also Iranian dissidents that the regime targets. These are potential risks to look at and policymakers need to make it clear to Iran that any operations will be viewed as akin to an act of war.' Speaking before Israel's attack, the UK's Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, announced the creation of a 'counter-hybrid taskforce' aimed at combating the activities of states such as Iran. Tehran has been developing hybrid warfare tactics including using cyberattacks, proxies and propaganda. Mr Lammy said Britain's diplomats 'will be ready for this murky new age of sabotage and subterfuge'. Iranian actors and criminals working for them have been known to carry court surveillance and reconnaissance, with the intention of carrying out serious violence. Announcing sanctions against Majid and his Foxtrot network, the US Treasury said Iran was 'increasingly' using criminal networks as proxies so it could maintain plausible deniability for operations against its enemies. 'Iran's brazen use of transnational criminal organisations and narcotics traffickers underscores the regime's attempts to achieve its aims through any means, with no regard for the cost to communities across Europe,' said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Iran has sought to assassinate dissidents through other criminal networks, including that of Iranian drug trafficker Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti, who had sanctions imposed on him by the US last January. Known as 'the Big Guy', he allegedly organised the attempted murder for hire of two residents of the state of Maryland. Tehran has also used foreign individuals, known in the spying trade as 'disposable assets', to harass opponents of the regime, including employees of Iran International, a London -based dissident television channel. In December 2023, Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, a Chechnya-born Austrian citizen was found guilty of spying on the broadcaster. Iran International was forced to move to new high-security studios after being shut down following alleged threats from the Iranian state. Two Romanian citizens were charged in December 2024 over the stabbing of Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati. Iran International spokesman Adam Baillie said: 'We are watching developments closely and we remain as ever on high alert for the security implications.'
Reuters
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Iran rejects UK accusation of links to Swedish criminal gang
LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) - Iran on Wednesday rejected a British accusation that it was connected to the Sweden-based criminal gang known as 'Foxtrot' after Britain's government had earlier this week sanctioned the group saying it had committed attacks on behalf of Tehran. On Monday, Britain said Foxtrot had attacked Israeli and Jewish targets across Europe for Iran. It did not specify which attacks it was referring to. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. "The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects the allegations connecting the Iranian government to the activities of a Swedish-based criminal gang, known as Foxtrot," a statement from the Iranian embassy in London said. Britain imposed an asset freeze on the Foxtrot group and an asset freeze and travel ban on Rawa Majid, who the government said was in charge of the gang. The Iranian embassy said it had submitted a protest to the British government, and that Britain had failed to provide credible evidence in other similar cases. "We consider such baseless positions and destructive conduct to be detrimental to the bilateral relations and urge the UK to refrain from pursuing hostile approaches towards Iran," the embassy said. Britain's foreign office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the embassy statement.
LBCI
14-04-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
UK imposes sanctions on Swedish-based Iranian criminal network over plots in Europe
The British government on Monday sanctioned what it said was a Swedish-based Iranian criminal network and its leader, citing the group's role in attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets across Europe. Britain imposed an asset freeze on the group known as "Foxtrot Network" and an asset freeze and travel ban on Rawa Majid, who the government said was in charge of the network. "The UK has targeted this criminal network and its leader, Rawa Majid, due to their involvement in violence against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe on behalf of the Iranian regime. The UK will not tolerate these threats," foreign minister David Lammy said in an emailed statement. Lammy did not specify which incidents he was referring to. Iran's embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sanctions.
See - Sada Elbalad
14-04-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
UK Sanctions Iranian Network Over European Plots
Israa Farhan The United Kingdom announced new sanctions on Monday targeting an Iranian criminal organization based in Sweden, accusing it of involvement in attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets across Europe. The British government has frozen the assets of the group, known as the Foxtrot Network, and imposed a travel ban on its leader, Rawa Majid, whom it identified as being responsible for the organization's operations. Officials said the sanctions were part of broader efforts to counter Iranian-linked threats and protect communities across Europe from hostile activities. The move comes amid growing international pressure on Iran over its alleged use of criminal networks to conduct operations abroad. British authorities emphasized their commitment to holding accountable those who pose a risk to European security and stability. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Arts & Culture Arwa Gouda Gets Married (Photos)
