Fars News reported that 86 people were killed and at least 170 others were injured in two consecutive explosions at a cemetery in the city of Kerman, south-central Iran - where a memorial service was taking place for the senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Major General Qassem Soleimani.
The death toll could continue to rise, as rescue work is not yet over, said Babak Yekta Parast, a spokesman for Iran's Emergency Services.
The memorial service for General Qassem Soleimani turned into a disaster as the attacks left more than 250 dead. (Photo: Fars News)
According to witnesses, many ambulances headed towards the cemetery, where hundreds of Iranians had gathered to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the death of General Qassem Soleimani.
Iranian media quoted Kerman provincial officials as saying that this was likely a targeted terrorist attack because the explosions occurred 10 minutes apart.
According to IRINN news site, the two explosions occurred in a tunnel about 1km from the cemetery where the memorial service was taking place. Most of the injuries were due to the crowd gathering and panic when the explosions occurred.
Major General Qasem Soleimani, head of the IRGC's Quds special forces, was killed in an airstrike on his convoy at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq on January 3, 2020.
The administration of former US President Donald Trump later admitted to being behind the attack in response to a series of attacks on US bases in Iraq. US intelligence believes pro-Iranian forces carried out the attacks.
Days later, Iran responded by firing missiles at bases in Iraq housing US and coalition troops. No US service members were killed, but dozens suffered traumatic brain injuries, according to the US military.
In a trial in May 2023, an Iranian court found 42 individuals and legal entities guilty, including former President Trump, the US government, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, in connection with the assassination of General Soleimani.
The court also ordered the US government to pay $49.7 billion in "material, moral and punitive damages" following a lawsuit filed by more than 3,300 Iranians.
Tra Khanh (Source: Fars News, RT)
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