Kerman suicide bomber was Israeli-Tajik: Iran's Intelligence

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Jan 2024 13:44
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The Ministry has revealed that 35 suspects have been arrested and that it has gotten substantial leads on the identity of the second suicide bomber.

Iranians pray over the flag-draped coffins of victims of the terrorist attack during their funeral ceremony in the city of Kerman southeast of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024 (AP)

The Iranian Intelligence Ministry stated on Thursday that one of the suicide bombers in the terrorist attack on Kerman was Israeli with Tajik citizenship.

The Ministry added that 35 suspects have been arrested and that it has gotten substantial leads on the identity of the second suicide bomber.

According to the Ministry's statement, the terrorist, who had illegally entered the country through its southeastern border on December 19, had expert craftsmanship in hand-devising bombs. He had manually manufactured the bombs used in the attack using electrical and explosive integrants and prepared more explosives for additional suicide vests but buried them to avoid discovery by law enforcement personnel.

He fled two days before the attack.

The Ministry affirmed that efforts to locate and convict the terrorist behind the Kerman attack persist nationally and internationally.

It also praised the Iranian people for their cooperation in identifying suspicious, possibly terrorist activities and elements.

Iran vows to avenge its martyrs

The twin attack on Kerman killed 93 people, including 9 children, and left nearly 300 individuals injured, with some in critical condition.

Commenting on the terrorist attack, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi said the response to this "cowardly act will be decisive." Minister Vahidi said the second bombing occurred as citizens were gathering to rescue the victims of the first bombing.

Vahidi said the killing of children and women was a response to the slap the terrorists had received from the Axis of Resistance.

On his part, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran, Major General Hossein Salami, emphasized that his country would avenge its martyrs.

Salami continued by saying that "the efforts of Hajj Qasem Soleimani eliminated the takfiri (terrorist) movements in the region," adding that they have no substantial geopolitical role.

"We are in amid a major battle, and we will defeat the takfiris every day. We will not allow the enemy to control us, and we will achieve further victories," he said.