ISIS Claims Attacks in Iran Capital Wednesday Morning; At Least 12 Dead
Suicide bombers and gunman killed at least 12 and wounded at least 42 in Tehran, Iran Wednesday. The Islamic State soon claimed the attack. It’s ISIS’ first attack in Iran, The New York Times reported.
Four attackers broke in to Iran’s parliament dressed in women’s clothing around 10:00 a.m local time. One set off a suicide bomb. The Times reported that one security guard was killed at the parliament and some people were kidnapped. A gunman later ran through the streets of Tehran, firing his weapon. CNN reports that the four attackers were killed by security.
Meanwhile attackers also invaded the mausoleum to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a revered political leader in Iran. The Associated Press called the attack on Khomeini’s resting place “symbolically stunning.”
During the attack, ISIS released a video from inside the parliament, Fox reported. The video shows an ISIS militant standing next to a bloody body. A voice says in Arabic, “Do you think we will leave? We will remain, God willing.”
Ali Larijani, Speaker of the parliament, called the attacks a “minor issue.”
“This is a minor issue but reveals that the terrorists pursue trouble-making,” he said. He also called the attackers “coward terrorists.”
CNN noted this is the first major attack in Iran since 2010.
One Iranian official who spoke with the Times linked the attack to Saudi Arabia.
Before the attacks Wednesday morning, Saudi Arabian King Salman said Iran was “spearheading global terrorism” and must be punished, the Times reported.
The attack comes two days after four Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, cut ties with Qatar, accusing the small nation of supporting terrorism. Shortly before the diplomatic break, Qatar’s leader allegedly criticized Saudi Arabia and said his country might ally with Iran. Qatar disputed the statement and said its system had been hacked. Iran backed Qatar after the other nations broke ties.
Saudi Arabia and Iran support opposing sides in the Sunni versus Shiite Islamic divide.
This story has been corrected to state that CNN noted Wednesday’s attack is the first major attack in Iran since 2010, not 2012.