An explosion today killed a reported 18 Al Quds members traveling in a bus in southeastern Iran.
Fars News is carrying this picture of one of those arrested after the blast earlier today
A car bomb exploded killing 18 Al Quds members today in Zahedan, Iran:
A car loaded with explosives blew up near a bus carrying members of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards in southeastern Iran, killing 18 of them, the state-run news agency reported today.
The car stopped in front of the bus near Zahedan, the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan Province, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. It called the attack a terrorist operation and said the car’s occupants fled on motorbikes seconds before the car exploded.
“This blind terrorist operation led to the martyrdom of 18 citizens of Zahedan,” IRNA quoted a Guards commander, Qasem Rezaei, as saying.
State-run television said the bus had been taking them to work when the attack took place.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Rezaei blamed “insurgents and elements of insecurity” for the attack.
Arrests were made and once again, Iran is blaming drug smugglers:
Hossein Ali Shahriyari, a deputy representing Zahedan, told an open session of the parliament today that “insurgents and drug traffickers” were behind the attack.
Shahriyari called lawless regions in southwestern Pakistan a safe haven for Iranian insurgents and drug traffickers, and called on the government to take up the issue with Islamabad.
…Soltan Ali Mir, a local Interior Ministry official, said five of those behind the explosion were arrested, IRNA reported. It did not say how many were involved.
Fars News added this on the terrorist attack:
During the terrorist operation, four men stopped the bus pretending that their passenger car had broken down and as soon as the bus braked to check on them, they left the place and detonated the car.
Observers and security analysts believe that a well-known gang leader in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan has been in charge of the terrorist operation.
A group called ‘Jondollah’ led by a well-known gang leader Abdul-Malik Rigi released a statement a few minutes ago and claimed responsibility for the terrorist operation.
Jondallah, the main armed separatist group of Iranian Baluchistan, took credit for another attack about 10 days ago in Zahedan, the capital of Iranian Baluchistan, which killed four security officials.
Since the Jondallah militant group led by Abdol Malek Righi was set up two years ago, at least 34 people have died in attacks carried out by its members against officials of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the Pasdaran, and Iranian police.
Earlier this year, after two bombs exploded at elections in December, authorities arrested a number of suspects in the southeastern city of Zahedan.
Winston has more.
Kamangir has an update.
Jules Crittenden– couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of guys.
Prairie Pundit has an update on the attackers.
On February 1, 2007 there were reports of an uprising by the Lor, Bakhtiari and Qashqai tribes of Iran.
ADN Kronos has more on the radical Sunni group that is taking credit for today’s attack:
Tehran, 14 Feb. (AKI) – A radical Sunni group, Jundallah (Allah’s Brigade), has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack Wednesday on a bus of the Revolutionary Guard, the Pasdaran, in southeast Iran, in a statement sent to Adnkronos International (AKI). Unconfirmed reports say 18 people died in the attack in the city of Zahedan. An Iranian government spokesman said police have arrested four men suspected of carrying out the attack. The Revolutionary Guard officials on the bus were reportedly travelling to the Pasdaran military base of Martyr Mirthosseini outside the city.
“On Wednesday morning, commander Ahmad Dehmordeh of our movement, detonated a bomb as a bus carrying commanders of the Revolutionary Guards was passing by,” the Jundallah statement to AKI said. “With today’s action, we have meant to respond to the unjust death sentences inflicted by the regime on political militants.”
Previously This Month:
Reports: Armed Clashes Against Iranian Regime in Isfahan Province!
Group Takes Credit for Attacks Against Iranian Regime
