At least eight people have been killed and more than 50 wounded in an explosion in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, Iranian media reports say.
At least eight people have been killed and more than 60 wounded in an explosion in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, Iranian media reports say.
The blast reportedly occurred during an address by a cleric in the Hoseyniyeh Shohada religious centre in the city.
The blast reportedly occurred during an address by a cleric in the Hoseyniyeh Shohada religious centre in the city.
Officials told the semi-official Fars news agency the explosion was caused by a bomb. It said at least three of the wounded were seriously hurt.
The city's Law Enforcement Force commander, Col Zamani, told the semi-official Fars news agency that the explosion had been caused by a bomb.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.
Fars said the death toll was expected to climb. An initial Iranian television report said scores had been killed, but later revised its death toll to "several".
Fars said the death toll was expected to climb and that at least three of the wounded were seriously hurt. An initial Iranian TV report said scores had been killed, but later revised its death toll to "several".
Weekly meeting
Weekly meeting
Fars said the explosion occurred at around 2100 (1630 GMT) and could be heard a mile (1.5km) away. The Irna news agency said it broke the windows of nearby houses.
Fars said the explosion occurred at around 2100 (1630 GMT) and could be heard a mile (1.5km) away. The Irna news agency said it broke the windows of many nearby houses.
Most of those inside the religious centre were young boys and girls affiliated to the Rahpoyan-e Vesal Association, which "holds weekly meetings every Saturday regarding misguided groups, including Wahhabis and Baha'is", Fars added.
Most of those inside the religious centre were young boys and girls affiliated to the Rahpoyan-e Vesal Association, which "holds weekly meetings every Saturday regarding misguided groups, including Wahhabis and Bahais", Fars added.
Members of the Law Enforcement Force and the Basij militia have placed a cordon around the religious centre, and ambulances and fire-fighters were rushing to the mosque. The Fars governor-general's office has also held an emergency meeting.
Wahhabism is a strict version of Sunni Islam practised throughout the Arabian Peninsula, most notably by Saudi Arabia's ruling family, while the Bahai faith is viewed as heretical by Iran's religious authorities.
Members of the Law Enforcement Force and the Basij militia have placed a cordon around the religious centre, and ambulances and fire-fighters rushed to the mosque.
Television channels urged people in Shiraz to donate blood for the injured, adding that all nurses in the city had been called in on duty.
Shiraz, about 900km (560 miles) south of the capital Tehran, is a major tourist destination because of its closeness to a number of important ancient sites.
Shiraz, about 900km (560 miles) south of the capital Tehran, is a major tourist destination because of its closeness to a number of important ancient sites.
It has not been, however, been a target of the isolated bomb attacks which have occurred in Iran in recent years.
It has not been, however, been a target of the isolated bomb attacks which have occurred in Iran in recent years.
The last major bombing, in the south-eastern city of Zahedan in February last year, is believed to have been carried out by the Sunni Baluchi militant group, Jundallah.
The last major bombing, in the south-eastern city of Zahedan in February last year, is believed to have been carried out by the Sunni Baluchi militant group, Jundallah.
Thirteen members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed when a car bomb exploded next to the bus in which they were travelling.
Thirteen members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed when a car bomb exploded next to the bus in which they were travelling.
The south-western city of Ahwaz, close to the Iraqi border, has seen sporadic anti-government violence since 2005, allegedly by its ethnic minority Arab population.
The south-western city of Ahwaz, close to the Iraqi border, has seen sporadic anti-government violence since 2005, allegedly by its ethnic minority Arab population.
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