Fears are growing that Iran will call on proxies to attack targets across Europe as Tehran has unleashed fury after the Ayatollah’s death.
Speaking to German media, Marc Henrichmann, of the Parliamentary Control Committee of the Intelligence Services in Germany, warned that the weekend’s attacks won’t stay isolated to the Middle-East.
He told Süddeutsche Zeitung: “The escalation in the Middle East doesn’t just affect the region itself.
“The Iranian regime has repeatedly demonstrated in the past that it carried out its terror beyond its own borders.”
The German official continued by saying “Iranian sleeper cells in Europe cannot be ruled out” as a form of Tehran’s retaliation strategy.
He concluded, “Vigilance is the order of the day”.
This concern from Germany is held among other Western leaders.
The New York Times reported last Sunday that US government officials (speaking on the condition of anonymity) said there was an increase in “chatter” - a term used for electronic intercepts of terrorists’ communications - indicating some level of attack planning and coordination.
German foreign minister, Marc Henrichmann, said 'vigilance is the order of the day'
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Among US intelligence and counterterrorism professionals, there are growing concerns Tehran - particularly emboldened now that their supreme leader was killed on Saturday’s strikes - could employ the Houthis in Yemen to carry out attacks on Western shipping assets in the Red Sea.
In Europe, there are concerns that Hezbollah sleeper cells or even Al Qaeda and their affiliates could attack American bases or embassies.
One senior US official said that government analysts were observing “a lot” of terrorist cell activity, but it’s still unclear if that will come to fruition, the New York Times reports.
A sleeper cell is a covert group of operatives affiliated with a state or non-state actor, such as a terrorist group, who infiltrate a country or community, essentially hiding in plain sight for a prolonged period of time before they are activated to carry out acts of terrorism, spying or sabotage.
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Iran’s president (left), Masoud Pezeshkian, said armed forces will leave enemies 'hopeless'
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In May last year, UK authorities foiled a terror attack which was described as the biggest counterterror operation in years.
The attack was just “hours away” from being committed.
Five men were arrested in connection with the plot, four of which were Iranian nationals.
In a separate operation, three Iranian men were arrested in London, with concerns they would destroy evidence connected to the uncovered plot.
Utilising sleeper cells has been a key tool in Iran’s arsenal, with reports of Iranian nationals in the UK being recruited to join them.
Speaking to the Metro last year, an Iranian national living in London said that efforts from Tehran to hire agents for underground missions are common.
They said: “They interrogate you in semi-friendly conditions.
“They take you somewhere and potentially hold your passport until you talk with them.
“Then they ask you to perform some tasks for Iran.”
With the Islamic Republic now in 40 days of mourning over the death of the Ayatollah, the Iranians have already been taking revenge, with an attack on the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, killing eight people.
Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said in a national TV broadcast that armed forces will leave enemies “hopeless”, with its newly formed leadership council starting work.