8 years ago
Twelve people were killed in twin attacks on Iran's parliament complex and the shrine of its revolutionary leader today, Iran's emergency services chief said. ISIS in a statement claimed responsibility for the attacks. Four attackers have been killed, Iranian media reported. A total of 39 people were wounded in the two attacks, and rescue operations are continuing, Iran's emergency services chief Pir Hossein Kolivand said. Security forces had arrested a "terrorist team" planning a third attack, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry said, without giving further details. The attacks would be the first assaults by the hardline Sunni Muslim group inside the Shi'ite Muslim country. A security guard and one other person were killed when four gunmen burst into Tehran's parliament complex, according to the ISNA news agency. A gardener was reported dead and several more injured when armed assailants entered the grounds of Ruhollah Khomeini mausoleum in the south of the city.
Donald Trump reacts on the Iran terror attack
US President Donald Trump warned Iran that states backing terror risk 'falling victim to evil they promote'
US President Donald Trump warned Iran that states backing terror risk 'falling victim to evil they promote'
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj speaks to her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif and condemns terror strikes on institutions of democracy and spirituality.
The Indian government is awaiting details from its embassy in Tehran following today's s terror attacks. "We have the initial reports which have come in from Iran," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay told reporters in New Delhi. "It's obviously an unfortunate situation... We are awaiting a full report and full details from our embassy as to what exactly happened," he said.
The Kremlin condemned the attacks in Tehran claimed by the ISIS. "Moscow decisively condemns such terrorist attacks," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that "the continuation of a series of terror attacks again underlines the need for coordinated actions in the fight against terror and ISIS."
Iranian media says parliament siege over, four attackers killed.
An Iranian soldier runs during an attack on the Iranian parliament in central Tehran. (Reuters)
Four attackers in parliament and mausoleum attacks killed, says Iran media.
The attacks, targeting Iran's parliament and the shrine of the nation's revered founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, took place less than a month after the re-election of President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate.
The head of the anti-terrorism department in the Iranian Intelligence Ministry said they have foiled another terrorist plot and have arrested "a terrorist team", state broadcaster IRIB reported.
ISIS launched the attacks in Tehran parliament and the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini, the terrorist group's Amaq news agency reported.
A second suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the shrine of Iran's revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini, state broadcaster IRIB reported. A woman had earlier blown herself up outside the shrine.
People gather near the parliament building in central Tehran. (Reuters)
One of the attackers on Iran's parliament complex blew himself up on the fourth floor amid an ongoing siege, state broadcaster IRIB reported.
An Iranian policeman looks out of the parliament building in central Tehran. (Reuters)
Three assailants, one with a pistol and two with AK-47 assault rifles, carried out the attack in central Tehran, lawmaker Elias Hazrati told state television.
Tehran is on lockdown, with streets blocked and the metro closed, and journalists kept away from the shrine by police.
Iran's Tasmin news agency said there were unconfirmed reports that the attackers had taken four hostages inside the parliament building.
It was not immediately clear who could be behind the attacks but Iran is a key player in efforts against the Islamic State group in both Syria and Iraq.
There were conflicting reports from inside the parliament complex, with some reports saying the situation had been brought under control while others said the shooting was continuing, with the buildings under lockdown.
