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Gunmen attack Iran’s parliament and Khomeini mausoleum

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Isaac Kaledzi is an experienced and award winning journalist from Ghana. He has worked for several media brands both in Ghana and on the International scene. Isaac Kaledzi is currently serving as an African Correspondent for DW.

Attackers have opened fire at the Iranian parliament and Ayatollah Khomeini’s mausoleum in the capital, Tehran, causing a number of casualties.

Heavy gunfire could be heard on videos filmed from outside parliament, and there are reports that a security guard has been killed.

At the mausoleum several people were injured, and at least one suicide bomber died.

The so-called Islamic State group (IS) has claimed it carried out the attacks.

It did not provide any evidence.

Reports are coming in of a second suicide bombing at the shrine, dedicated to the founder of the Islamic Republic. Two or three gunmen were also involved in the initial attack there, news agencies reported.

Iran’s intelligence ministry said it had foiled a third attack by a “terrorist group” but did not name any organisation.

The situation at the parliament remains confusing, with some reports of a suicide bomber there, and an an ongoing hostage situation – but the BBC cannot confirm these.

Fars news agency posted new pictures showing shooting around the building.

An image showing a man with a gun looking out of the window, initially described as an attacker by Iranian media, actually shows a policeman.

But MP Seyyed Hossein Naqavi-Hosseini told the Isna news agency that three gunmen were still in the building, in MPs’ offices.

A photo posted by Fars showed people inside the parliament building lowering a child out of a first-floor window to people waiting below.

State TV news channel Irinn said seven or eight people had been injured at the parliament by four attackers.

The gunmen were carrying Kalashnikovs and one Colt pistol, reports said.

Irna said one gunman had been arrested.

The governor of Tehran said one attacker at the mausoleum had detonated a suicide vest and another had been killed by security forces, state broadcaster Irib reports.

Ali Khalili from the mausoleum’s public relations office told the state-run Irna news agency that one of the armed men had blown himself up in front of a bank outside the mausoleum.

However, Fars reported that the suicide bomber was a woman. Images from the scene showed the remains of the bomber, apparently clad in black clothes.

Map showing Tehran

There are conflicting reports as to whether the remaining attackers have been arrested.

Five people were wounded at the mausoleum, and one person was confirmed dead, the Ilna news agency said, though it was unclear whether this included the bomber.

Iranian policemen try to help some civilians fleeing from the parliament building during an attack in Tehran, Iran, 07 June 2017
This image appears to show a child being lowered from a window of Iran’s parliament building. EPA

 

BBC

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