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| Iran attacks: 'IS' hits parliament and Khomeini mausoleum | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Twin attacks on the Iranian parliament and Ayatollah Khomeini's mausoleum in the capital, Tehran, have killed at least 12 people and injured many more. | Twin attacks on the Iranian parliament and Ayatollah Khomeini's mausoleum in the capital, Tehran, have killed at least 12 people and injured many more. |
| The assault on the parliament appears to be over, after hours of intermittent gunfire there. A suicide bomber detonated a device at the mausoleum. | The assault on the parliament appears to be over, after hours of intermittent gunfire there. A suicide bomber detonated a device at the mausoleum. |
| The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed it carried out the attacks, which would be a first in Iran. | The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed it carried out the attacks, which would be a first in Iran. |
| Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saudi Arabia was behind the attacks. | Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saudi Arabia was behind the attacks. |
| How did the attacks unfold? | How did the attacks unfold? |
| Gunmen armed with Kalashnikovs entered the parliament on Wednesday morning. Images from the scene showed a major security operation as forces surrounded the building. | Gunmen armed with Kalashnikovs entered the parliament on Wednesday morning. Images from the scene showed a major security operation as forces surrounded the building. |
| Heavy gunfire could be heard. | Heavy gunfire could be heard. |
| Iranian authorities denied that there had been a hostage situation inside the parliament building. | Iranian authorities denied that there had been a hostage situation inside the parliament building. |
| Reports said the gunmen had entered parliament via a public entrance, dressed as women. | Reports said the gunmen had entered parliament via a public entrance, dressed as women. |
| Security forces surrounded the parliament, and TV footage showed people, including children, escaping from windows. | Security forces surrounded the parliament, and TV footage showed people, including children, escaping from windows. |
| Iranian media later reported that four attackers inside the parliament building had been killed by security forces. | Iranian media later reported that four attackers inside the parliament building had been killed by security forces. |
| At about 10:40 (06:10 GMT) attackers at the mausoleum in southern Tehran, which is dedicated to the Islamic Republic's founder Ayatollah Khomeini, opened fire. | At about 10:40 (06:10 GMT) attackers at the mausoleum in southern Tehran, which is dedicated to the Islamic Republic's founder Ayatollah Khomeini, opened fire. |
| The governor of Tehran said one attacker there had detonated a suicide vest and another had been killed by security forces, state broadcaster Irib reports. | The governor of Tehran said one attacker there had detonated a suicide vest and another had been killed by security forces, state broadcaster Irib reports. |
| Images from the scene showed grenades and magazines for automatic weapons, apparently recovered from the body of an attacker. | Images from the scene showed grenades and magazines for automatic weapons, apparently recovered from the body of an attacker. |
| The suicide attacker was a woman, reports suggested. | The suicide attacker was a woman, reports suggested. |
| It is not clear whether the death toll of 12 includes the attackers, or whether the victims were killed at both incidents or solely at the parliament. | It is not clear whether the death toll of 12 includes the attackers, or whether the victims were killed at both incidents or solely at the parliament. |
| About 40 people were injured in the two attacks, according to emergency services chief Pir Hossein Kolivand. | About 40 people were injured in the two attacks, according to emergency services chief Pir Hossein Kolivand. |
| Iranian officials say they managed to foil a third attack. | Iranian officials say they managed to foil a third attack. |
| What kind of presence does IS have in Iran? | What kind of presence does IS have in Iran? |
| IS said it had carried out the attack and later posted a video which showed what it claimed was footage from inside the parliament building. | IS said it had carried out the attack and later posted a video which showed what it claimed was footage from inside the parliament building. |
| A voice is heard saying, in Arabic: "We're not going anywhere. We're staying forever." | A voice is heard saying, in Arabic: "We're not going anywhere. We're staying forever." |
| An Iranian MP later confirmed that the video showed his office and one of his employees lying dead. | An Iranian MP later confirmed that the video showed his office and one of his employees lying dead. |
| BBC Persian's Jenny Norton says that despite Iran's active involvement in fighting IS in both Iraq and Syria, the Sunni group has not until now carried out any attacks inside Iran, and appears to have little support in this predominantly Shia country. | BBC Persian's Jenny Norton says that despite Iran's active involvement in fighting IS in both Iraq and Syria, the Sunni group has not until now carried out any attacks inside Iran, and appears to have little support in this predominantly Shia country. |
| However, our analyst says, in recent months the group has stepped up its Farsi-language propaganda efforts - targeting Iran's restive Sunni minority. | However, our analyst says, in recent months the group has stepped up its Farsi-language propaganda efforts - targeting Iran's restive Sunni minority. |
| An IS documentary-style video in March featured militants who were introduced as Iranian fighters in IS ranks based in Iraq. | An IS documentary-style video in March featured militants who were introduced as Iranian fighters in IS ranks based in Iraq. |
| Speaking in Farsi, they denounced the Iranian government and the religious establishment, including the country's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. | Speaking in Farsi, they denounced the Iranian government and the religious establishment, including the country's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. |
| Iranian intelligence agencies claim to have foiled a number of IS-inspired plots. | |
| But by mounting a successful attack, IS could claim a major coup against a traditional foe that other Sunni jihadist groups, including its rival al-Qaeda, have failed to target in the past. | But by mounting a successful attack, IS could claim a major coup against a traditional foe that other Sunni jihadist groups, including its rival al-Qaeda, have failed to target in the past. |
| What has been the reaction both inside Iran and abroad? | What has been the reaction both inside Iran and abroad? |
| This is the most serious terrorist violence in Tehran since the turbulent early years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. | This is the most serious terrorist violence in Tehran since the turbulent early years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. |
| It will come as a huge shock to ordinary Iranians, who have got used to living in a country which is generally far more stable and safe than most of its neighbours, our analyst says. | It will come as a huge shock to ordinary Iranians, who have got used to living in a country which is generally far more stable and safe than most of its neighbours, our analyst says. |
| Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani downplayed the events, describing them as a "minor issue". | Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani downplayed the events, describing them as a "minor issue". |
| However, officials announced a nationwide state of emergency in response to the attacks. | However, officials announced a nationwide state of emergency in response to the attacks. |
| Later, the Revolutionary Guards said the fact that IS had claimed the attacks "proved" that Saudi Arabia was behind them. | Later, the Revolutionary Guards said the fact that IS had claimed the attacks "proved" that Saudi Arabia was behind them. |
| "This terrorist attack happened only a week after the meeting between the US President [Donald Trump] and the [Saudi] backward leaders who support terrorists," a statement said. | "This terrorist attack happened only a week after the meeting between the US President [Donald Trump] and the [Saudi] backward leaders who support terrorists," a statement said. |
| Iran's ally Russia condemned the attacks. | Iran's ally Russia condemned the attacks. |
| "The continuation of a series of terror attacks again underlines the need for co-ordinated actions in the fight against terror and IS," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. | "The continuation of a series of terror attacks again underlines the need for co-ordinated actions in the fight against terror and IS," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. |
| France also condemned the attacks, but some Western countries have appeared slow to react. There has been no word from Mr Trump, a fierce critic of Iran and its nuclear programme. | France also condemned the attacks, but some Western countries have appeared slow to react. There has been no word from Mr Trump, a fierce critic of Iran and its nuclear programme. |
| What is the likely effect of the attacks? | What is the likely effect of the attacks? |
| Middle East analyst Dina Esfandiary says one possible consequence will be increased calls by hardliners for tougher action against IS in Iraq and Syria. | Middle East analyst Dina Esfandiary says one possible consequence will be increased calls by hardliners for tougher action against IS in Iraq and Syria. |
| Public support for action in Iraq is likely to grow, as it did when IS took swathes of territory in the country in 2014. | Public support for action in Iraq is likely to grow, as it did when IS took swathes of territory in the country in 2014. |
| But Iran's involvement in Syria is not popular, our analyst says - it is seen as having few benefits and costing too many Iranian lives. | But Iran's involvement in Syria is not popular, our analyst says - it is seen as having few benefits and costing too many Iranian lives. |
| The attacks will also boost the popularity of the Revolutionary Guards, seen as protectors of the nation. | The attacks will also boost the popularity of the Revolutionary Guards, seen as protectors of the nation. |