ISIS Claims Responsibility For Iran Twin Bombings, Says 2 Members 'Activated Explosive Vests'

Iran Twin Blasts: The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for the twin bombings that killed at least 84 people and injured 284 others.

A view of the scene after explosions near slain Gen. Qassem Soleimani's tomb, in Kerman City, Iran on January 03, 2024.

Source : Getty Images

The Islamic State jihadist group has claimed responsibility for the twin bombings that rocked the southern city of Kerman in Iran, killing at least 84 people and injuring 284 others. The deadly attack occurred during a gathering near the grave of the late Revolutionary Guards general, Qasem Soleimani.

In a statement disseminated on Telegram, the extremist group declared that two of its members had "activated their explosives vests" during the ceremony at Kerman’s Matryrs Cemetery, news agency AFP reported.

The event was held to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the killing of Soleimani, head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq.

Earlier, Iran's state media reported that investigators believed the perpetrators were likely suicide bombers. An unnamed "informed source" quoted by the state-run IRNA news agency revealed that surveillance footage from the route to the cemetery depicted a male suicide bomber detonating explosives. The IRNA source also suggested that the second blast "probably" originated from another suicide bomber, although absolute confirmation is pending, as per news agency AP.

The report further disclosed details regarding the distance between the explosions, indicating that they occurred 1.5 kilometers and 2.7 kilometers away from Soleimani’s crypt. The official speculated that the attackers strategically chose these locations outside the security perimeter of the commemoration.

Iran Twin Blasts Death Toll Revised 

The death toll, initially reported at 103, was subsequently revised downward after officials identified repeated names on the list of victims and considered the severity of wounds sustained by some of the deceased, AP reported. Health authorities highlighted that many of the wounded remain in critical condition, leaving the possibility of a rise in the death toll, AP's report mentioned.

The attack has left Iran grappling with its worst mass-casualty incident in decades, raising concerns about security in the region. The ceremony itself was attended by a large number of people who gathered to pay respects to Soleimani, revered by supporters of the country's theocracy and viewed as a formidable adversary by the U.S. military for his alleged role in aiding militants responsible for the deaths of American troops in Iraq.

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