http://www.payvand.com/news/10/sep/1043.html
09/05/10
ayvand.com – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corp (IRGC) issued a statement on Sunday denying any connection with the attack on Mahdi Karroubi’s home.
“Gathering of some headstrong elements outside Karroubi’s home which led to shooting from his home was organized by a number of unwise and willful elements and we strongly condemn the incident … and those who have been behind this incident have no relation with the sacred organs of Basij and Sepah (IRGC),” the statement says.
Karroubi’s home has come under repeated attacks with latest ones happening last week prior to the annual Qods Day rallies. The attacks reached their height on Thursday night when the attackers broke into the house, fired shots and throw Molotov cocktails at the building. As a result, Karrubi’s chief bodyguard was severely injured, and the building sustained considerable damage.
Karrubi’s website, Saham News, had said militants and “more than 50 members of the Basij,” a volunteer force loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had surrounded his house and carried out the attacks.
The attack happened after comments made by IRGC Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, alluded to support for such attacks. Jafari said that the people of Iran would judge the “heads of sedition,” instead of the regime, referring to opposition leaders. There was no attempt made by police forces to stop the attacks, a sign that confrontations with opposition leaders are being formally managed by pro-government and security forces.
It should be noted that despite the fact that the attacks lasted few nights, there have been no reports of any arrests being made by the security forces. This is even more ironic since just last week the security forces displayed their readiness to confront thugs in the city.
The attackers have threatened they plan to return. Perhaps this time around the security forces won’t be so absent from the scene?