‘IS attack’ on Iran parliament kills 12

Gunmen and suicide bombers stormed Iran's parliament and the shrine of its revolutionary leader yesterday, killing 12 people in the first attacks in the country claimed by the Islamic State group, reports AFP.
Dozens were injured in the attacks, which targeted two of Iran's most potent symbols: its parliament complex in central Tehran and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who led the 1979 Islamic revolution.In a statement after the attacks, President Hassan Rouhani called for global unity against violent extremism.
He also shrugged off attacks by gunmen and said the attack will not have any impact on the Iranian people.
"These fire-crackers that happened today will not have the slightest effect on the will of the people," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said after the twin attacks, which also left dozens injured.
The attackers struck at Iran's most potent symbols: its parliament complex in central Tehran and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who led the 1979 Islamic revolution.
"Iran's message as always is that terrorism is a global problem, and unity to fight extremism, violence and terrorism with regional and international cooperation is the most important need of today's world," he said.
The country's powerful Revolutionary Guards vowed revenge for the attacks and claimed the United States and Saudi Arabia were "involved".
The standoff lasted around five hours before all the gunmen holed up in parliamentary office buildings were killed.
IS released a video of the attackers from inside the building via its Amaq propaganda agency -- a rare claim of responsibility while an attack was still going on, suggesting a degree of coordination. The Sunni jihadists of IS consider Shiite Iran to be apostates, and Tehran is deeply involved in fighting the group in both Syria and Iraq.
The assaults began mid-morning when four gunmen burst into the parliament complex, killing a guard and one other person, according to the ISNA news agency.
The parliament attackers were in their early 20s and spoke Arabic, according to a Revolutionary Guards intelligence official.
Another official said they were dressed as women and entered through the visitors' entrance. One eventually exploded a suicide vest while the others were killed by security forces.
One man, recovering in a hospital bed, told state TV he was waiting to meet an MP when the shooting began.
"I was in the visitors' lobby and suddenly shooting began. There were women and children. I escaped towards the parliament, and was shot in the leg while running," he said.
At roughly the same time, two assailants entered the grounds of the Khomeini mausoleum, killing a gardener and wounding several other people.
One detonated a suicide vest, while the other was shot dead.
It was not clear whether the shrine attackers were women, as earlier reported, or just wearing female clothing.
Iran's emergency services said a total of 12 people were killed in the two attacks and 46 wounded.

 

 

IS attack on Iran parliament kills 12

Gunmen and suicide bombers stormed Irans parliament and the shrine of its revolutionary leader yesterday, killing 12 people in the first attacks in the country claimed by the Islamic State group, reports AFP. Dozens were injured in the attacks, which targeted two of Irans most potent symbols: its parliament complex in central Tehran and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who led the 1979 Islamic revolution.In a statement after the attacks, President Hassan Rouhani called for global unity against violent extremism. He also shrugged off attacks by gunmen and said the attack will not have any impact on the Iranian people. These fire-crackers that happened today will not have the slightest effect on the will of the people, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said after the twin attacks, which also left dozens injured. The attackers struck at Irans most potent symbols: its parliament complex in central Tehran and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who led the 1979 Islamic revolution. Irans message as always is that terrorism is a global problem, and unity to fight extremism, violence and terrorism with regional and international cooperation is the most important need of todays world, he said. The countrys powerful Revolutionary Guards vowed revenge for the attacks and claimed the United States and Saudi Arabia were involved. The standoff lasted around five hours before all the gunmen holed up in parliamentary office buildings were killed. IS released a video of the attackers from inside the building via its Amaq propaganda agency -- a rare claim of responsibility while an attack was still going on, suggesting a degree of coordination. The Sunni jihadists of IS consider Shiite Iran to be apostates, and Tehran is deeply involved in fighting the group in both Syria and Iraq. The assaults began mid-morning when four gunmen burst into the parliament complex, killing a guard and one other person, according to the ISNA news agency. The parliament attackers were in their early 20s and spoke Arabic, according to a Revolutionary Guards intelligence official. Another official said they were dressed as women and entered through the visitors entrance. One eventually exploded a suicide vest while the others were killed by security forces. One man, recovering in a hospital bed, told state TV he was waiting to meet an MP when the shooting began. I was in the visitors lobby and suddenly shooting began. There were women and children. I escaped towards the parliament, and was shot in the leg while running, he said. At roughly the same time, two assailants entered the grounds of the Khomeini mausoleum, killing a gardener and wounding several other people. One detonated a suicide vest, while the other was shot dead. It was not clear whether the shrine attackers were women, as earlier reported, or just wearing female clothing. Irans emergency services said a total of 12 people were killed in the two attacks and 46 wounded.