Blast kills 38 people in southwestern Iran

Blast in Chabahar

A bomb explosion this morning in Iranian southwestern city of Chabahar killed at least 38 people.

The blast, which was reportedly a suicide attack, occurred in front of Imam Hossein Mosque during the Shia ceremony of Tasoa. During Tasoa and Ashura Shiites mourn the death of Imam Hossein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in processions and religious pageants.

Ali Abdollahi, security deputy of the Iranian Interior Minister announced: “The explosion in Chabahar was a suicide terrorist attack carried out by two individuals.”

“One of the perpetrators was killed in the attack and due to alert care of our officers, the other one was identified and prevented from carrying out the operation,” Abdollahi added. “The equipment used and the support facilities of the terrorists reveal that they are backed by the advanced intelligence services in the region and the US.”

Chabahar Intelligence Office however reported that three people were involved in this suicide attack. They reported that one was killed in the blast while the second was shot and injured as his bomb failed to explode. The second perpetrator who was injured was arrested along with the third individual according to Chabahar officials.

Fariborz Ayati, head of Sistan-Baluchistan coroner’s office told IRNA that 38 people have been killed so far by the blast and reported that some women and children were amongst the dead.

Sistan-Baluchistan Province has seen numerous terrorist attacks in the past years and the dissident militant group, Jundollah has often taken responsibility for these attacks.

Last March the Islamic Republic arrested Abdolmalek Rigi, the leader of Jundollah and executed him in June. In July, a blast in a Zahedan Shia mosque killed 27 people and Jundollah announced that they had carried it out in response to the execution of their leader.

Sistan-Baluchistan is one of the most deprived regions of Iran and Jundollah considers itself a defender of the Baluch ethnic and Sunni minorities.