New Delhi:
Gunmen and a suicide bomber have carried out apparently coordinated attacks on Iran’s parliament and the tomb of revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini, state media said on Wednesday, with at least five people reported killed.
It was not immediately clear who could be behind the attacks but Iran is a key player in efforts against the Islamic State group in both Syria and Iraq.
A security guard was killed when four gunmen burst into Tehran’s parliament complex, while a gardener was reported dead when several armed assailants entered the grounds of Khomeini’s mausoleum in the south of the city, according to the ISNA news agency.
At least eight people were wounded in the attacks, according to the reports.
An official at Khomeini’s mausoleum in south Tehran said “three or four†people had entered via the western entrance and opened fire, killing the gardener and wounding several people, according to the Fars news agency.
Fars said a female suicide attacker blew herself up outside the shrine and published photos showing the explosion.
Four men armed with rifles and a pistol were reported to be inside the parliamentary complex, around 20 kilometres away in the centre of the city.Tasnim news agency said one of the men had later left the building and was firing in the street, but was forced back inside by police fire.
News agencies ISNA and Fars had earlier said three people had been shot after the gunmen entered via the north entrance, including at least one security guard.
The ILNA news agency said security forces were dismantling a bomb inside the Khomeini shrine and that firing was still going on around the site.
It was not clear if the assailants had been able to enter the actual mausoleum.
The city was on lockdown, with streets blocked and the metro closed, and journalists kept away from the shrine by police.
Here are the highlights:
#3:10 PM
8 grenades, 10 magazines, a bottle filled with pink fluid were being carried by a neutralized terrorist at Imam's Mausoleum
#2:40 PM
Islamic State group claims attacks in Tehran: Amaq agency - AFP
#2:10 PM
Reports: Two of terrorists attacking Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mausoleum arrested
#2:01 PM
A terrorist holed up inside Iran Parliament Building blows himself up
#1:55 PM
One of terrorists attacking Iran Parliament killed by IRGC forces: Press TV
#1:53 PM
Attackers take several hostages at Iran’s Parliament: Press TV
#1:50 PM
Unofficial sources: Security forces have managed to capture to gunmen at Imam Khomeini Mausoleum in southern Tehran
#1:46 PM
Shivraj Singh Chouhan must resign, at the end it is his responsibility and it would be unjustified if shifted on any police officer: Kamal Nath
#1:45 PM
Gunshots being heard around #IranParliament #TehranShooting pic.twitter.com/18zMmPqgq9
— Press TV (@PressTV) June 7, 2017
#1:35 PM
It is also reported that the gunman in the photo is one of the Iranian security forces not an assailant #TehranShooting pic.twitter.com/tdXoGvdQ4q
— Press TV (@PressTV) June 7, 2017
#1:25 PM
Traffic ban enforced in streets near #Parliament building in Tehran #TehranShooting pic.twitter.com/vW10YdjjdV
— Press TV (@PressTV) June 7, 2017
#1:21 PM
One attacker of Iran Parliament arrested, reports state news agency IRNA
#1:20 PM
Photo of one of purported gunmen attacking #IranParliament Building #TehranShooting pic.twitter.com/XBF6Tgc1bF
— Press TV (@PressTV) June 7, 2017
#1:15 PM
One of the gunmen trapped inside as #Parliament Building is under siege by security forces
#1:10 PM
First photo of suicide explosion's aftermath at Imam Khomeini Mausoleum #TehranShooting pic.twitter.com/8wjUjMZW8t
— Press TV (@PressTV) June 7, 2017
#1:08 PM
People gather outside Iran Parliament in central Tehran after the shooting incident #tehranshooting pic.twitter.com/OGZ90zchZS
— Press TV (@PressTV) June 7, 2017
#1:06 PM
One of the armed men detonated himself in front of a bank outside the mausoleum, reports IRNA quoting Head of Imam Khomeini Mausoleum PRO.
#1:05 PM
Two killed in attacks on Iran parliament, Khomeini tomb: media
#1:05 PMÂ
BREAKING: Iran state TV says 4 attackers in parliament shooting, 8 people wounded.
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 7, 2017
12:35 PM
Iran shooting: 1 killed, 5 injured in shooting spree at Imam Khomeini shrine; 8 injured in Parliament shooting, reports news agency Mehr
#12:25 PM
At least 2 injured in shooting in shrine of #ImamKhomeini in southern Tehran, #Iran: Local mediahttps://t.co/yYozBmJghm pic.twitter.com/L59IdBuK5D
— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) June 7, 2017
A gunman opened fire on pilgrims at Imam Khomeini mausoleum in Tehran, Iran, injuring a number of people, reports state news agency IRNA
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 7, 2017
Iran shooting: 1 killed, 5 injured in shooting spree at Imam Khomeini shrine; 8 injured in Parliament shooting, reports news agency Mehr
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 7, 2017
#12:20 PM
At least two injured in shooting in shrine of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini in southern Tehran, Iran: Local media
#12:15 PM
3 shooters attacked Iran Parliament. Two civilian visitors, one security officer injured, reports news agency Mehr quoting MP Elias Hazrati.
#12:01 PM
Shooting inside Iran Parliament, three people injured: Local media
About Imam Khomeini tomb:
The Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini houses the tomb of Ruhollah Khomeini and his family – his wife Khadijeh Saqafi and his second son Ahmad Khomeini and some other pol leaders. It is located to the south of Tehran in the Behesht-e Zahra (the Paradise of Zahra) cemetery.
The site is a place of Ziyarat for followers of Khomeini. It is used symbolically by government figures, and is on occasion visited by foreign dignitaries.
(With inputs from agencies)
