Interpol issued alerts yesterday to arrest five Iranian officials and a Hezbollah leader suspected of planning the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 and injured more than 150 others.

The orders, known as capture notices, were issued to the world’s police organizations in the wake of criticism from the chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who accused the international police agency of failing to assist Argentina in locating and capturing those suspected in the deadly blast.

In January, Reps. Tom Lantos, California Democrat, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Florida Republican, urged Interpol to quickly issue capture notices for those charged by Argentina in the bombing and questioned whether Interpol was following standard procedures in its handling of Argentina’s arrest warrants for the Iranians and the official of the Shi’ite militia Hezbollah.

In a letter to Ronald K. Noble, Interpol secretary-general, Mr. Lantos and Mrs. Ros-Lehtinen said the agency — which processes arrest warrants issued by member governments — “appears to have taken the unusual step of undertaking its own review of the evidence.” The lawmakers challenged pending meetings with Iran by Interpol on the arrest warrants.

“Argentina government authorities have issued new and more extensive indictments … with additional, relevant and conclusive evidence of Iran’s involvement in the attack,” the letter said. “We would like an explanation of the purpose and intent of these proposed proceedings or meetings with the government of Iran on the warrants and investigation.”

“It is my hope that Interpol will now act expeditiously to implement its decision so that these fugitives will be compelled to answer for their alleged role in this terrorist attack,” she said.

With 186 member countries, Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization. It facilitates cross-border police cooperation, including worldwide distribution of arrest warrants and alerts for capture issued by member states.

WT