Miami case targeting bomb parts suppliers

MIAMI, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A Miami indictment of 16 foreigners and overseas businesses is aimed at finding out who supplied parts used to make Iranian bombs, authorities say.

Federal authorities said Iranian-controlled companies purchased parts from individuals and companies operating out of the United States and then used those technological devices to build bombs, the Miami Herald said Thursday.

U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said Wednesday's indictment of those suspected of selling such parts to Iran is part of an attempt to protect U.S. soldiers serving overseas.

''We cannot allow American-made goods to threaten our soldiers abroad,'' Acosta said.

Several of the items sold to the Iranian groups were allegedly found in the remnants of improvised explosive devices used in Iraq, the Herald said.

Acosta told the newspaper the names of the parts manufacturers have not been released as exporters allegedly had no knowledge of how their products would be used. U.S. authorities are also set to seek the extradition of the eight unidentified foreign individuals involved in the case.