Arrest of Abdolmalek Rigi

The arrest of Abdolmalek Rigi, the leader of Jundallah group, took place on 23 February 2010 through an international operation by Iranian security forces.

Rigi was extracted from a passenger jet on his way from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

[2][3] Abdolmalek Rigi (Persian: عبدالمالک ریگی) was the leader of Jundallah, a militant group based in the Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran.

According to the Iranian government, after visiting an American military base in Afghanistan on 23 February 2010, Rigi, with a forged Afghan passport,[4] was a passenger of a flight which traveled from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

[1][2] When the plane arrived at the Persian Gulf, Iranian fighter jets interrupted its route towards Bishkek airport.

[4] According to a former U.S. intelligence officer, on the other hand, Rigi was captured by Pakistani officials and delivered to Iran with U.S. support: "It doesn't matter what they say.

After Rigi's arrest, Iranian officials declared the capture a victory over America, Britain and Israel, which it claimed had supported him and his group.

[1][10][9] The British government said, "Abdolmalek Rigi is a terrorist responsible for despicable attacks which have killed many innocent Iranians.