103 People Killed Due to Explosion on Anniversary of General Soleimani's Death, Iran Declares Thursday a Day of Mourning
JAKARTA - At least 103 people were killed and 188 others were injured as a result of two explosions near the burial site of a senior Iranian military commander in Kerman City, Iran on Wednesday.
The explosion that occurred on the fourth anniversary of the death of Iran's IRGC Quds Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani, one of which was thought to be the result of a bomb, according to state television, is considered to increase tensions due to conflict in the region.
The first explosion occurred 2,300 feet (700 meters) from Soleimani's tomb, and the second explosion occurred 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) away as pilgrims visited the site, according to IRNA as quoted by CNN, January 4.
Meanwhile, another state television channel, IRINN, reported that the first explosion near Soleimani's grave was caused by a bomb placed in a suitcase in a Peugeot 405 car. It was thought to have been detonated remotely.
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the first explosion occurred at 15:00 local time, during an interview with Iranian state news channel IRIB. Meanwhile, the second, more deadly explosion occurred 20 minutes later, when other worshipers came to help the injured victims, Vahidi continued.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Tehran declared Thursday a day of mourning after the blast. Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi canceled his trip to Türkiye after the explosion.
It is known that Major General Soleimani was killed in a United States airstrike ordered by then President Donald Trump at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq four years ago. The Quds Force he leads is an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) that handles operations abroad.
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Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned terrorism in various forms, in letters to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi following the blast.
Meanwhile UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the European Union condemned Wednesday's explosion, calling for the perpetrators to be held accountable.