Two explosions caused by “terrorist attacks” killed more than 70 people and wounded scores at a ceremony in Iran to commemorate top commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a 2020 US drone attack, Iranian officials said on Wednesday.
Iranian state television reported a first and then a second explosion during an anniversary event at the cemetery where Soleimani is buried in the southeastern city of Kerman.
عمليات اخلاء لمقبرة كرمان، وغير معلوم حتى اللحظة ما اذا كان الانفجار ناتج عن انفجار لاسطوانات غاز او نتيجة هجوم. pic.twitter.com/RBvjRE3gmw
— Fatima Alsmadi • فاطمة الصمادي (@AlsmadiFatima) January 3, 2024
“The blasts were caused by terrorist attacks,” state media quoted a local official in the Kerman province as saying. Babak Yektaparast, a spokesperson for Iran’s emergency services, was reported later as saying 73 people had been killed and 170 injured.
The semi-official Nournews had said earlier that “several gas canisters exploded on the road leading to the cemetery.”
The immediate aftermath of a blast in Iran on January 3, 2024 (VIA MAARIV)
State TV showed Red Crescent rescuers attending to wounded people at the ceremony, where hundreds of Iranians had gathered to mark the anniversary of Soleimani’s death. Some Iranian news agencies said at least 50 people were wounded.
“Our rapid response teams are evacuating the injured… But there are waves of crowds blocking roads,” Reza Fallah, head of the Kerman province Red Crescent told state TV.
Suitcases containing remotely-activated explosives
Local media officials told Iranian state TV later on Wednesday that the explosions were caused by two suitcases containing explosives that were triggered remotely. According to the sources, the second explosion deliberately targeted security forces in the area, according to Israeli media.
According to the officials, the devices were activated by remote control with a 10-second interval between them. The first explosion occurred about 700 meters from Soleimani’s grave, and the second explosion was directed towards the security forces who organized the ceremony to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the leader’s death, according to the report.
This is a developing story.
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