Iranian diplomats leave embassy in Albania after expulsion

By LLAZAR SEMINI
Associated Press

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — The last staff of the Iranian Embassy in Tirana have left the building after they were given 24 hours to leave Albania over a major cyberattack that the Albanian government blames on Iran. It is the first known case of a country cutting diplomatic relations over a cyberattack. The last two embassy cars with about 10 passengers left the compound Thursday near noon after much movement inside the building overnight, including the apparent burning of documents. Albanian special police forces and officers were seen surrounding the compound, which still flew the Iranian flag, immediately after the Iranians left. Ties between the two countries have been tense since 2014 when Albania sheltered some 3,000 members of an Iranian opposition group.