This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/07/shootings-iranian-parliament-khomeini-shrine
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Iran: 12 dead in twin suicide attacks on parliament and shrine in Tehran | Iran: 12 dead in twin suicide attacks on parliament and shrine in Tehran |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more injured in Tehran, in a two-pronged suicide bomb and gun assault on the Iranian parliament and the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Republic. | At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more injured in Tehran, in a two-pronged suicide bomb and gun assault on the Iranian parliament and the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Republic. |
| Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incidents within two hours, publishing a brief video that purported to show the assailants inside the parliament. If an Isis role is confirmed, this would be the first attack conducted by the terror group inside majority-Shia Iran. | Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incidents within two hours, publishing a brief video that purported to show the assailants inside the parliament. If an Isis role is confirmed, this would be the first attack conducted by the terror group inside majority-Shia Iran. |
| The parliament assault began when four gunmen armed with rifles burst into the building complex. One of the attackers reportedly blew himself up inside as police surrounded the building. | The parliament assault began when four gunmen armed with rifles burst into the building complex. One of the attackers reportedly blew himself up inside as police surrounded the building. |
| Gunfire could be heard from outside as police helicopters circled overhead, entrance and exit gates were closed, and mobile phone lines from inside were disconnected. | Gunfire could be heard from outside as police helicopters circled overhead, entrance and exit gates were closed, and mobile phone lines from inside were disconnected. |
| “I was inside the parliament when shooting happened. Everyone was shocked and scared. I saw two men shooting randomly,” one journalist at the scene, who asked not to be named, told Reuters. | “I was inside the parliament when shooting happened. Everyone was shocked and scared. I saw two men shooting randomly,” one journalist at the scene, who asked not to be named, told Reuters. |
| MPs continued scheduled sessions in another part of the complex. The deputy interior minister, Mohammad Hossein Zolfaghari, told Iran’s state TV that the attackers were dressed as women in order to gain entry. | MPs continued scheduled sessions in another part of the complex. The deputy interior minister, Mohammad Hossein Zolfaghari, told Iran’s state TV that the attackers were dressed as women in order to gain entry. |
| About five hours after the first reports, Iranian news agencies said all four assailants were dead and the incident was over, after unconfirmed reports of a hostage situation. | About five hours after the first reports, Iranian news agencies said all four assailants were dead and the incident was over, after unconfirmed reports of a hostage situation. |
| Ali Larijani, Iranian parliament speaker, called the attack a cowardly act. “Iran is an active and effective pillar in the fight against terrorists and they want to damage it,” he said. | |
| Soon after the assault on the parliament began, reports emerged of another incident about 12 miles (19km) south at the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who established the Islamic Republic after deposing the Shah in 1979. | Soon after the assault on the parliament began, reports emerged of another incident about 12 miles (19km) south at the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who established the Islamic Republic after deposing the Shah in 1979. |
| One attacker detonated a suicide bomb outside the shrine, the state news agency IRNA reported, and another assailant was reportedly shot by security forces. A number of visitors were injured. | One attacker detonated a suicide bomb outside the shrine, the state news agency IRNA reported, and another assailant was reportedly shot by security forces. A number of visitors were injured. |
| State-run news quoted the head of Iran’s emergency department as saying 12 people were killed and 42 wounded in the two attacks. It was not clear whether that toll included the attackers. | State-run news quoted the head of Iran’s emergency department as saying 12 people were killed and 42 wounded in the two attacks. It was not clear whether that toll included the attackers. |
| The Iranian intelligence ministry said a third team had been arrested before carrying out a planned attack. | The Iranian intelligence ministry said a third team had been arrested before carrying out a planned attack. |
| Attacks are highly rare in Tehran and other major Iranian cities, although a Sunni militant group named Jundallah and its splinter group, Ansar al Furqan, have been waging a deadly insurgency, mostly in more remote areas, for almost a decade. | Attacks are highly rare in Tehran and other major Iranian cities, although a Sunni militant group named Jundallah and its splinter group, Ansar al Furqan, have been waging a deadly insurgency, mostly in more remote areas, for almost a decade. |
| Isis, which adheres to a puritanical strain of Sunni Islam, considers Shias heretics and has carried out numerous attacks against Shia civilians, in Iraq in particular. But this assault, which appeared to have a higher degree of coordination and planning than recent Isis-claimed attacks in Europe, would be a significant escalation. | Isis, which adheres to a puritanical strain of Sunni Islam, considers Shias heretics and has carried out numerous attacks against Shia civilians, in Iraq in particular. But this assault, which appeared to have a higher degree of coordination and planning than recent Isis-claimed attacks in Europe, would be a significant escalation. |
| It took place against a backdrop of great regional tension, with Arab Gulf countries pushing for a more forceful isolation of Iran, their regional arch-enemy. The Gulf states earlier this week severed diplomatic relations with their neighbour Qatar over its close relationship with Tehran. | It took place against a backdrop of great regional tension, with Arab Gulf countries pushing for a more forceful isolation of Iran, their regional arch-enemy. The Gulf states earlier this week severed diplomatic relations with their neighbour Qatar over its close relationship with Tehran. |
| Last month, Iranian voters re-elected Hassan Rouhani, a relatively moderate figure, by a landslide in presidential elections. The high-profile attack on one of the most well-guarded buildings in the capital will come as a blow to the reformist president, who will have to address demands for greater security in the face of the Isis threat. | Last month, Iranian voters re-elected Hassan Rouhani, a relatively moderate figure, by a landslide in presidential elections. The high-profile attack on one of the most well-guarded buildings in the capital will come as a blow to the reformist president, who will have to address demands for greater security in the face of the Isis threat. |
| Isis published a rare video in Persian in March, warning that it “will conquer Iran and restore it to the Sunni Muslim nation as it was before”, while accusing Iranians of persecuting Sunnis over the centuries. | Isis published a rare video in Persian in March, warning that it “will conquer Iran and restore it to the Sunni Muslim nation as it was before”, while accusing Iranians of persecuting Sunnis over the centuries. |
| “Islamic State has been agitating in Iran for years now but its supporters there haven’t received much attention in the past,” said Charlie Winter, from the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College London. “In 2016, Isis eulogised seven Iranian suicide attackers that had died in operations in Iraq and Syria. | “Islamic State has been agitating in Iran for years now but its supporters there haven’t received much attention in the past,” said Charlie Winter, from the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College London. “In 2016, Isis eulogised seven Iranian suicide attackers that had died in operations in Iraq and Syria. |
| “Iran has, compared to many of its neighbours, a relatively strong and stable state and its security services are notoriously effective. That’s why we’ve not seen an attack there until now. I don’t doubt that the Islamic State has planned operations in Iran in the past - this is just the first one to be a success.” | “Iran has, compared to many of its neighbours, a relatively strong and stable state and its security services are notoriously effective. That’s why we’ve not seen an attack there until now. I don’t doubt that the Islamic State has planned operations in Iran in the past - this is just the first one to be a success.” |
| Need something explained?Let us know which of these questions we can answer for you. | Need something explained?Let us know which of these questions we can answer for you. |
| Agence France-Presse contributed to this report | Agence France-Presse contributed to this report |