Over 100 killed in 'terrorist attacks' near Iran’s slain general's grave
People gather at the scene of explosions during a ceremony held to mark the death of late Qassem Soleimani, in Kerman. Reuters
Twin bomb blasts killed at least 103 people in Iran on Wednesday, ripping through a crowd commemorating Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani four years after his death in a US strike, state media reported.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed "evil and criminal enemies" of the country for the attack and vowed a "harsh response."
The unclaimed attacks — which sparked fears of a widening conflict in the region — rattled global markets where oil prices jumped more than three percent.
Two explosions caused by 'terrorist attacks' killed more than 70 people and wounded scores at a ceremony in Iran to commemorate top commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a 2020 US drone attack, Iranian officials said on Wednesday.
Iranian state television reported a first and then a second explosion during an anniversary event at the cemetery where Soleimani is buried in the southeastern city of Kerman.
"The blasts were caused by terrorist attacks," state media quoted a local official in the Kerman province as saying.
Babak Yektaparast, a spokesperson for Iran's emergency services, was reported later as saying 103 people had been killed and 170 injured.
The semi-official Nournews had said earlier that "several gas canisters exploded on the road leading to the cemetery".
State TV showed Red Crescent rescuers attending to wounded people at the ceremony, where hundreds of Iranians had gathered to mark the anniversary of Soleimani's death.
Some Iranian news agencies said the number of wounded people was much higher.
"Our rapid response teams are evacuating the injured... But there are waves of crowds blocking roads," Reza Fallah, head of the Kerman province Red Crescent told state TV.
Agencies
