Iran hangs Sunni militant

The leader of a rebel Sunni Muslim group has been executed in Iran for his alleged involvement in a series of terrorist attacks.

Abdolmalek Rigi was hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison early this morning as the relatives of the victims looked on.

Iranian special forces arrested him onboard a flight from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan four months ago.

Iran’s top court ruled that Rigi’s Jundullah group, or Soldiers of God, was responsible for killing at least 154 people since its formation in 2003.

Jundullah recently claimed it was behind a suicide bombing close to the Pakistani border that killed 42 people.

The group says its aim is to protect the rights of Sunni Muslims in Iran’s impoverished Sistan-Baluchestan province in the southeast of the country.

Iran authorities also say Jundullah operatives have links to the intelligence services of the US, the UK and Pakistan.

All three countries deny that claim.

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