Attack on Iran Courthouse in Zahedan Leaves Multiple Dead

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Armed assailants stormed a provincial courthouse in the city of Zahedan in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province on Saturday morning, launching a deadly attack that left multiple people dead and wounded and triggered a major security response, according to extensive, moment-by-moment reporting from Iran's IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency. The militant group Jaish al-Adl, which Iran calls Jaish al-Zulm, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the assault, which Tasnim described as a "terrorist act" that began with an infiltration of the building and escalated into indiscriminate shooting at civilians in the surrounding area.

According to the timeline of events reported by Tasnim, the incident began Saturday morning when several armed individuals, described by the news agency as "terrorists," attacked the Sistan and Baluchestan Provincial Courthouse located on Azadi Street in Zahedan. The assailants successfully entered the building and opened fire, sparking chaos and a swift deployment of security forces.

In its initial dispatches, Tasnim News Agency relayed preliminary casualty figures, stating that at least six people had been "martyred" and 22 others were injured in what it termed a "terrorist attack." The news outlet was careful to note that these numbers were not final. “The provided figures for the number of martyrs and wounded are preliminary,” Tasnim reported, adding that “investigations into the full scope of this terrorist incident are ongoing.”

As the situation unfolded, the news agency reported that "the militant group Jaish al-Zulm had issued a statement claiming responsibility for the operation." Tasnim provided no further details on the group's statement but consistently referred to the event as a "terrorist act" throughout its coverage.

The response from Iranian security forces was swift and decisive, according to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that was carried by Tasnim. The Quds Base of the IRGC Ground Forces announced that its fighters had engaged the attackers and brought the immediate threat to an end. “Following the cowardly terrorist operation by a terrorist group against the Sistan and Baluchestan Provincial Courthouse, three members of this group were killed by the fighters of the IRGC's Quds Base,” the statement read, according to Tasnim’s report.

The IRGC statement also confirmed that civilians had been caught in the crossfire. “During the group's attack on the courthouse, a number of visitors were injured, with several in critical condition,” the Quds Base noted, asserting that “the situation is currently under the control of security forces.” An informed source cited by Tasnim corroborated the death of the three attackers and elaborated on the nature of the assault, stating that the operation “initially targeted the courthouse and then expanded to indiscriminate shooting at people present in the surrounding area.” This source also confirmed that non-combatants were harmed, with the agency reporting that “some citizens and their property were also damaged in the incident.”

Tasnim’s reporting painted a vivid picture of the chaotic scene and the subsequent emergency response. The agency relayed an urgent security warning issued to the public, cautioning civilians to avoid the area entirely. “Following the armed attack on the Zahedan courthouse moments ago by terrorist mercenaries, all respected citizens are requested to strictly refrain from being in the vicinity of the courthouse and its surroundings,” the official warning stated. It further instructed the public to “keep the routes leading to the scene clear for the passage of ambulances and security forces” and to “avoid gathering, filming, and spreading rumors,” directing them to follow news only from credible, official sources.

On-the-ground reports from Tasnim described a heavy presence of security and law enforcement forces surrounding the courthouse, with some personnel having entered the building to secure it. The evacuation of those trapped inside was also a key focus of the coverage. “A number of the injured have been evacuated from the courthouse with the help of rescue forces and transported to medical centers by ambulance,” Tasnim reported. “Visitors and courthouse staff are also being evacuated from the scene with the help of security and law enforcement forces.” The agency also mentioned obtaining an account from a woman who was present during the attack, though it did not provide the details of her testimony.

The medical response was a significant component of the reports. Dr. Mohammad Hassan Mohammadi, the President of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, spoke directly to a Tasnim reporter in Zahedan, providing an update on the treatment of the wounded. “All those injured in this morning's terrorist incident in Zahedan have been treated by the operational teams of Emergency 115 and the emergency ward of Khatam al-Anbiya (PBUH) Hospital,” Dr. Mohammadi stated. He confirmed the rapid deployment of medical personnel to the scene, adding that “Emergency 115 forces immediately arrived at the scene of the conflict and transferred the injured to hospitals.”

Dr. Mohammadi assured the public that all necessary medical procedures were underway. “Initial medical procedures are being performed by specialized emergency medicine and surgery teams, and all capacities will be used for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions,” he told Tasnim. The agency’s reports continually stressed that official figures on the final number of casualties would be announced later by official sources, maintaining a cautious approach as the full aftermath of the attack was still being assessed.

Updated the casualties to six dead and 22 wounded. At 02:02 PM.