Agencies
Tehran
At least 103 people were killed and 141 others wounded in explosions near the tomb of former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Qassem Soleimani during a ceremony on Wednesday marking four years since his assassination.
Two explosions were heard in the southeastern city of Kerman on Wednesday afternoon near the burial place of Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike, according to Iranian media reports.
It was not immediately clear what caused the blasts. Officials have blamed a “terrorist attack”.
Videos showed ambulances arriving at the scene and taking away injured people on stretchers. Kerman is about 820 kilometres southeast of the capital, Tehran.
“The number of people killed rose to 103 following the death of people injured during the terrorist explosions,” said official IRNA news agency.
Another 141 people were wounded in the bombings, IRNA said adding that some were in “critical condition”.
Mohammad Saberi, the head of Kerman’s emergency services, confirmed the toll.
Among those killed were three paramedics who rushed to the scene after the first explosion, said Iran’s Red Crescent.
Authorities told local media that some of the injured were being treated after being trampled in the pandemonium following the explosions.page 3
