Multiple Dead in Suicide Attacks on Iran Parliament

Multiple Dead in Suicide Attacks on Iran Parliament
Fecha de publicación: 
7 June 2017
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Four gunmen reportedly burst into Tehran’s parliament complex with rifles and a pistol, and one of the attackers blew himself up on the fourth floor.

Gunmen and suicide bombers reportedly carried out a coordinated attack on Iran’s parliament.

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Four gunmen reportedly burst into Tehran’s parliament complex with rifles and a pistol, and one of the attackers blew himself up on the fourth floor, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

At least 12 people have died and dozens injured, the head of Iran's emergency department, Pir-Hossein Kolivand, was quoted as saying by state broadcaster IRIB.

There were also other unsubstantiated sources reporting that a number of members of parliament were taken hostage.

It is unclear how the attackers breached the security checkpoints to enter the parliament building.

Police helicopters were hovering over the building, entrance and exit gates were closed, and mobile phones were jammed.

Chamber reporters were ordered to stay put.

A Jamaran News image said to be of the moment the attacker detonated a suicide belt at the Khomeini shrine.

Witnesses said the attackers were shooting from the fourth floor of the parliament building down at people in the streets below.

Ebrahim Ghanimi, who was passing the building when the attack occurred told the Associated Press: “I thought that children were playing with fireworks, but I realized people were hiding and lying down on the streets.”

Approximately half an hour after the first attack, three to four individuals entered the western entrance of Khomeini’s tomb complex and opened fire. One attacker also reportedly detonated a suicide belt.

The ILNA agency said security forces were dismantling a bomb at the mausoleum, which is in southern Tehran, about 12 miles from the parliament building.

Iran’s intelligence ministry said a third plot was foiled.

The state broadcaster Irib reported that the ministry said: “Members of a third group were arrested before being able to carry out any attack.”

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