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Interpol seeks arrests for 1994 attack in Argentina

Relatives of those killed in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center praised Interpol's vote on Wednesday to issue wanted notices for five Iranians and one Lebanese militant linked to Argentina's deadliest terrorist attack.

Interpol's annual assembly shook off Iranian objections to issue so-called "red notices" requesting the arrests.

An explosives-packed van leveled the seven-story community center in downtown Buenos Aires on July 18, 1994, killing 85 people and wounding 200. No one has been charged.

"It has been 13 years since the bombing and we've never let our guard down in seeking justice," said Luis Grynwald, president of the rebuilt community center. "There is no zeal for vengeance; we just want to get at the truth."

Among the suspects Argentina is seeking are former Iranian intelligence chief Ali Fallahian, former leader of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Mohsen Rezaei and Hezbollah militant Imad Moughnieh, who is also wanted for his alleged role in attacks on US forces in Lebanon in 1983.

Iran's top diplomat in Buenos Aires, Mohsen Baharvand, rejected allegations Iran was involved in the bombing, but said it would not extradite the men because Iranian law bars it from sending citizens abroad for prosecution.

He repeated his government's offer to provide "judicial cooperation" to clear up the case.

Adriana Resfield, whose 35-year-old sister was killed in the bombing, was pleased with the Interpol action.

"The world doesn't want any more terrorism," she said, noting her sister's daughters, now 22 and 25, still ask why their mother had to die. "The family isn't going to rest in peace until we know for sure who placed the bomb."

Sergio Widder, Latin America representative for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights group, said Interpol's vote shows Argentina has carried out "a serious and proper investigation" and finally pinpointed the organizers of the attack.

"It's something real," he said of Interpol's ruling. "Any police agency in the world could arrest these people."

Argentina's government had no immediate comment.

In a statement, US Ambassador to Argentina Earl Anthony Wayne called the vote a "critical step in international efforts in the fight against terrorism."

Several civilians and former police officers accused of aiding the 1994 bombers were cleared in a trial three years ago, and critics say too much time has passed to pursue the case.

"It's too late. If they haven't captured them yet, they're not going to capture them now," said Flavio Roldan, an Argentine bike messenger. "They should have been quicker."
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