Iran’s Interior Ministry confirmed Saturday the arrest of more than a hundred people linked to the poisoning of schoolgirls in several schools in the country, an action that Tehran considers a plot orchestrated by «enemy» countries.
The ministerial portfolio has provided details on the investigations opened, days after it announced that several people had been arrested for their alleged responsibility in the events without providing information on the numbers.
Thus, it has indicated that among those arrested there are cases of people who acted »out of mischief» with the »aim of closing classes», as well as those arrested »with hostile motives», whose purpose was »to sow terror among the people and students, creating skepticism towards the system», according to IRNA news agency.
»The investigation of these criminal persons, including the discovery of their possible connection with terrorist organizations (…), is under investigation,» the Ministry has indicated.
The authorities have sought to calm the situation, emphasizing that »fortunately, since the middle of last week until today, the number of incidents in schools has decreased significantly».
The first poisonings were reported more than two months ago in a school located in Qom, capital of the homonymous province, but since then they have spread to other parts of the country, although it is true that for the moment the real extent of this wave of poisonings is unknown.
Both the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the President, Ebrahim Raisi, have considered these incidents to be part of a conspiracy orchestrated from abroad. Khamenei has stated that the poisonings are »an unforgivable crime» and has advocated »harsh punishments» against those responsible.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
