Terrorist attack on Shah-e Gheraq shrine in Shiraz, Iran left 1 dead, 8 injured
RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – At least one person was killed and eight others injured on Sunday in an attack on Shah-e Gheraq shrine in Iran’s southern city of Shiraz.
IRIB news reported two armed assailants opened indiscriminate fire at the entrance of the Shah Cheragh shrine resulting in the death of a guard.
The attackers were foreign nationals, reported Nour News, which is affiliated with Iran’s top security body, citing an unnamed source.
One of the assailants carrying a Kalashnikov was apprehended, while the other managed to flee, the source added.
Four suspects have been arrested so far on charges of involvement in the Sunday terrorist attack, said the chief justice of Fars province.
“With the investigations carried out so far, four suspects linked to this incident have been arrested,” Kazem Mousavi said on Monday morning.
He added that the main terrorist, who started shooting at people in the shrine and was immediately arrested, has been handed over to investigators for interrogation and further investigation, according to Mehr News Agency.
Earlier on Sunday IRNA, said four people were killed in the attack.
Iran’s state TV cited BBC as saying that ISIS/Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack.
Gene. Bo Ali, the Revolutionary Guard commander in Fars province told state TV that the officer who was taken into custody was carrying a rifle and eight magazines, adding that the situation is currently under control.
President Ebrahim Raisi has asked the Interior Ministry and the provincial governor’s office to “quickly identify all the perpetrators” of the attack, state media said.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi instructed the provincial governor of Fars to investigate “the terrorist incident.”
The national security commission of the Iranian parliament will also be investigating the attack on Monday, the commission spokesman was quoted as saying, adding that the report will be made public soon.
Shah Cheragh shrine is the tomb of Ahmad bin Musa (eighth Imam of Shia Muslim, Imam Ali Al-Rida’s brother)
2nd attack on shrine
The 12th-century shrine, which houses the grave of a revered Shia Muslim scholar, is a popular destination for local and foreign tourists.
Last October, at least 13 people were killed and 40 others injured after an armed man opened an indiscriminate fire inside the shrine.
It was the first major attack in Iran claimed by ISIS/Daesh since 2017, when five armed men attacked the parliament and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Imam Khomeini.
In July, judicial authorities publicly executed two men over involvement in the attack.