OAN's James Myers
10:33am – Wednesday, January 3, 2024
More than 100 people were killed during a memorial service to commemorate the late Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, a former terrorist.
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Wednesday's attack drew thousands of Iranians to Soleimani's monument in Kerman to commemorate the fourth anniversary of his death.
Iranian authorities said two bombs were detonated at a cemetery decorated with photographs of former commanders of the Revolutionary Guard's elite Quds Force.
According to Iranian state media, the first bomb exploded just 700 meters (2,300 feet) from the monument, while the other one was 1 kilometer (2,000 feet) away.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Former General Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020 and is buried in a cemetery.
Graphic video showed crowds of people running away from the explosion as bodies lay on the ground and emergency services arrived.
Additionally, the footage shows that a second explosion occurred almost 15 minutes after the first, a strategy used by terrorist groups to target emergency workers and increase the death toll.
Reports said the two bombs were placed in suitcases and detonated by remote control.
“The explosion was caused by a terrorist attack,” one local official said. “Several gas cylinders exploded on the road leading to the cemetery.''
Local officials also said an additional 141 people were injured.
Following the attack, Iran's Attorney General Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei said those responsible for the attack would be found and punished.
“The intermediaries and perpetrators of this serious crime will definitely be punished,” Mohseni-Ejei said in a statement, according to the news agency. Al Jazeera.
“Responsible intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies have a duty to promptly track down all evidence and perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
Soleimani was considered a national hero by Iran and a national threat by the United States.
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