Iran mosque attacks: 20 killed

Jul 16, 2010

TEHERAN - TWO suicide bombings at a Shi'ite mosque in heavily Sunni south-east Iran killed more than 20 people on Thursday, including worshippers and members of the Revolutionary Guards, state media reported.

The attack came as people celebrated the birthday of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed, a day also set apart each year to honour the Revolutionary Guards. More than 100 people were wounded in the attacks, which came only minutes apart, at the Jamia mosque in the restive city of Zahedan, capital of south-eastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.

'Two explosions in front of the Zahedan Jamia mosque left more than 100 wounded and more than 20 martyred,' Fariborz Rashedi, the head of the emergency services of Sistan-Baluchestan province, told state news agency IRNA. Zahedan MP Hossein Ali Shahriari told Fars news agency the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers, with the first by a man dressed as a woman. 'The attacker, dressed in women's clothing, was trying to get into the mosque, but was prevented,' Mr Shahriari said.

'When people came to rescue those hit in that blast, another bomber blew himself up.' IRNA said the first attack was around 9.20pm (1650 GMT, 12.50am Singapore time). Deputy Interior Minister Ali Abdollahi said it was carried out by a suicide bomber where worshippers were being frisked before entering the mosque. 'That attack resulted in the martyrdom of several, including some of the Revolutionary Guards,' he said.

Mr Abdollahi said the second attack took more casualties as people rushed to the site of the first bombing. The head of Guards political bureau, Yadollah Javani, pointed the finger at United States, Israel and other Western countries as possible planners of Thursday's bombings.

'One cannot rule out the direct intervention of America, Zionists and other Western countries in the explosions at Jamia mosque of Zahedan,' he told Fars. Zahedan has been repeatedly hit by attacks blamed on Sunni rebel group Jundallah (Soldiers of God), which plays on feelings of resentment among ethnic Baluchis in the province. -- AFP

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