Iran says more than 100 arrested over schoolgirl poisonings
- Government has pointed at possible links to MEK, an exiled Iranian opposition group it considers a terrorist organisation
- But MEK urged Iran to accept international investigation, saying thousands of poisonings are ‘work of no one but regime and its repressive apparatus’
Iran has announced more than 100 arrests nationwide over the mystery poisonings of thousands of schoolgirls, charging that the unidentified alleged perpetrators may have links with “hostile” groups.
In the wave of cases since late November, schoolgirls have suffered fainting, nausea, shortness of breath and other symptoms after reporting “unpleasant” odours on school premises, with some being treated in hospitals.
“More than 100 people who were responsible for the recent school incidents were identified, arrested and investigated,” the ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency IRNA.
“Among those arrested are people with hostile motives and with the aim of instilling terror in the people and students and to close schools.”
On March 6 Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for the perpetrators of the “unforgivable crime” to be tracked down “without mercy”.
The ministry added that “fortunately, from the middle of the last week until today, the number of incidents in schools has decreased significantly, and there have been no reports of sick students”.
