Malaysia to deport bomb plot suspect

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 27 (UPI) -- Malaysia is set to deport an Iranian man to Thailand to face questioning over an alleged bomb plot targeting Israeli officials last February.

A court approved Thailand's extradition request for Masoud Sedaghat Zadeh, who was arrested in Kuala Lumpur a day after explosions Feb. 14 in Bangkok. He was picked up while attempting to transfer to a flight for Iran.

A judge ordered Zadeh returned to Sungai Buloh Prison pending an order from Malaysia's home minister for the extradition to proceed, a report by Malaysia's national news agency Bernama said.

But Zadeh, 31, denies the charges and said he will appeal the court's decision, which means his departure isn't imminent.

The bomb in Bangkok -- which apparently exploded unexpectedly in a house rented by terrorist suspects -- put police on high alert because of suspicion that it was connected to bomb attempts on Israelis in Georgia and India, allegedly by Iranians.

Thai police have wanted to question Zadeh since he boarded a plane in Bangkok the same day as the explosion.

Three men, including Zadeh, fled the house after the blast.

One of the men, Saeid Moradi, 28, was captured several streets away after he allegedly threw a bomb at a police vehicle.

The explosives bounced off a passing car and exploded in front of the suspect, injuring three passers-by and blowing off Moradi's legs, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported at the time.

Later that afternoon police at Bangkok's airport arrested a second man, Mohamad Khazaei, 42.

Thai police immediately issued an arrest warrant for Zadeh and applied to Malaysian authorities for his extradition, although Malaysia and Thailand have no formal extradition treaty.

Indian police investigating the blasts in New Delhi arrested Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi, 50, at his home in south Delhi. Police said they took two personal computers, a laptop computer, Kazmi's car and cellphone, as well as $1,250 in cash, The Times of India reported.

Kazmi allegedly helped with logistics, including conducting reconnaissance missions of the Israeli Embassy and providing his car to the bombers, unnamed sources told The Times in March.

But lawyers acting for Kazmi said their client was framed by police.

Immediately after the attacks in February, Israel accused Tehran of involvement in all three attempts.

"Iran is behind these attacks and it is the largest terror exporter in the world," Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said.

Tehran has denied involvement.