Argentina sends eight suspects to trial over AMIA bombing
Judge Daniel Rafecas formally accuses eight Iranian and Lebanese nationals over the 1994 attack that left 85 people dead and injured hundreds more. Leer más
Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas in Argentina has indicted eight Iranian and Lebanese citizens for their alleged involvement in the 1994 AMIA bombing. The ruling, over 600 pages long, was drafted under the in absentia trial provisions of National Law 27,784, which allows legal proceedings to proceed despite defendants being abroad, while ensuring their rights to legal representation and due process.
The attack on the Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires killed 85 people and injured 300, causing significant material damage. According to the reconstruction in the ruling, the decision to carry out the bombing was made in August 1993 by the highest levels of the Iranian regime and entrusted to Hezbollah, which organized the implementation through a network of regional and local supporters.
The judge has placed on trial individuals including then-Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahijan, former foreign minister Ali Velayati, Mohsen Rezai, Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezai, and Ahmad Vahidi, as well as Hadi Soleimanpour, former Iranian Ambassador to Argentina, his ex-cultural attaché Mohsen Rabbani, and Intelligence agent Ahmad Asghari.
Lebanese Hezbollah agent Salman Raouf Salman, also known as 'Samuel El Reda,' who coordinated the final stages of the attack, was also indicted. The resolution comes after decades of investigations and brings the case closer to a potential oral trial. While the defense lawyers appointed for the accused can still appeal, further procedural steps must be completed before the case can proceed to trial.
The judge has declared the attack as a crime against humanity and genocide under international law, but acquitted Abdallah Salman and Hussein Mouzannar due to insufficient evidence. The resolution also notes a potential link between the AMIA bombing and the 1992 attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, which resulted in 22 deaths.
President Javier Milei expressed support for the ruling on social media, and the court-approved defense lawyers may appeal the decision.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
