Paraguay Arrests 4 in Embassy Threats

ASUNCION, Paraguay — Three Arab nationals and a retired Paraguayan military officer were arrested in connection with threats against the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion, a Paraguayan police spokesman said Thursday.

“The arrests were made yesterday and today simultaneously in Ciudad del Este and in Asuncion,” police spokesman Antonio Noguera said. “But for the moment they are just being held for questioning.”

U.S. diplomats said Tuesday that the embassy was threatened by an international guerrilla group that officials in Washington hinted could be the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Asked if Hezbollah, which is best known in Lebanon but also reportedly has affiliates in other countries, was behind the threat, a U.S. official said Tuesday: “I wouldn’t steer you away from that.”