Explosion in Iranian Zakhenad kills 22

A terrorist attack in Zakhedan, south-east of Iran, killed 22 people and injured 160, the head of the Sistan-Beludjistan province, Ali Mohammed Azad, said, Trend reports, citing Iranian media.

Mohammed Azad added that some of the victims are gravely wounded and the number of dead may rise. According to IRNA, the terrorist attack was carried out at the main city mosque by 2 suicide bombers.

A TV channel in Dubai “Al-Arabia” reported that the Sunni armed group Jundullah (Warriors of Allah) took responsibility for the terrorist attack, as a revenge for the execution of its leader in June. Abdolmalek Rigi was arrested by Iranian special services on February 23rd.

The suicide bombers target was the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) — an elite subdivision of Iranian military forces.
Jundullah declared that the two suicide bombers are relatives of Rigi — Abdolbaset Rigi and Mohammad Rigi.

Jundullah is a Sunni militant group (most Iranians are Shiites) formed in 2003 and operating in Iran and Pakistan’s Beludjistan. Iranian authorities accuse the organization of murders, armed robberies, kidnappings, explosions and sabotage. According to Tehran, Jundullah has links with the special services of the USA and UK. The previous terrorist attack by the organization was in October 2009, in the south-east of Iran, and killed 50 people.