There have been two bomb blasts in Kerman city of Iran. Its state media says the ceremony was being held near the grave of former Iranian general Qassem Soleimani near the Saheb al-Zaman Mosque here on the fourth anniversary of the assassination.
The death toll in these blasts has reached at least 103. While more than 140 people are said to be injured. The death toll is continuously increasing.
Iran has called this attack a terrorist attack. Let us tell you that four years ago today, Soleimani was killed in an American drone attack.
On the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards General Qasim Suleimani, two massive explosions took place near his grave. Four years ago, on January 3, 2020, Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack in Baghdad.
Iranian state media say a ceremony was taking place near the Saheb al-Zaman Mosque in the city of Kerman during the anniversary. During this time two big explosions occurred.
Explosions rock Iranian city, two blasts in ten minutes
Eyewitnesses say that both the blasts occurred within an interval of ten minutes. Iran’s state broadcaster Irib said at least 103 people were killed and 141 others were injured in the blasts during a ceremony near the Saheb al-Zaman mosque in the city of Kerman. The death toll may increase. The head of emergency services for Kerman province said the explosion was caused by a bomb.
“A large explosion was heard near the Saheb al-Zaman mosque” where Soleimani, the head of foreign operations of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, is buried in the southern Iranian city of Kerman, AFP reported, citing local media. “After some time, a second explosion was heard near Saheb al-Zaman Mosque.”
Who carried out the bomb blasts?
Iranian state TV reported that the explosion was heard near the burial place of Qassem Soleimani, but gave no details about what caused it.
Several people were reported injured in the stampede that followed the blasts, as the live broadcast showed thousands of mourners attending the anniversary. Many ambulances were also seen on the spot.
Who was Qasim Sulemani?
Qasim Sulemani was the top leader of the Iranian army. He was killed in a US drone strike just outside Baghdad airport on 3 January 2020.
This was when Qasim Suleimani was a respected figure in Iran. He led the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.