More arrests in Iran, mastermind of Tehran twin attacks killed

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iranian authorities on Sunday stated they had arrested six people involved in the attacks in Tehran last week, which killed at least 17 and injured 52 people.

“Six people who were certainly connected to Wednesday’s terrorist attacks in Tehran were identified and arrested,” head of the justice department in Kordestan province in western Iran Aliakbar Garousi said according to Fars news agency.

On Saturday, Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi announced intelligence forces had killed the mastermind of the twin attacks.

Iranian Police Chief Hossein Ashtari on Saturday also mentioned they had arrested around 60 suspects near Tehran, accused of having links to the deadly shootings and bombing.

Following the attacks on Wednesday, in an online statement, the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Iranian Parliament and the mausoleum of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The attacks occurred less than a month after the re-election of President Hassan Rouhani.

Rouhani’s landslide victory defeated candidates supported by the hardline clergy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is responsible for national security.

Editing by G.H. Renaud