At least 103 killed in Iran ‘terrorist attack’ at event honoring general taken out in US drone strike, Tehran says

nypost ^ | 1/3/2024 | Melissa Koenig

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More than 100 people were killed at an event honoring former Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Wednesday in what local authorities are calling a “terrorist” attack.

Thousands of Iranians had gathered at Soleimani’s gravesite in Kerman to mark the fourth anniversary of his death — carrying photos of the former head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force when authorities say two bombs went off.

The first explosion occurred just 700 meters from Soleimani’s grave, while the second was a kilometer away, Iranian national media reports.

Graphic video shared online later showed the crowds running away as emergency crews responded to the scene, with bodies lying in the ground.

The footage suggested that the second blast occurred some 15 minutes after the first — a tactic often used by terrorist groups to target emergency responders and increase the death toll.

The two bombs were reportedly placed in suitcases and detonated remotely.

“The blasts were caused by terrorist attacks,” one local official said. “Several gas canisters exploded on the road leading to the cemetery.”

The death toll from the explosions rose quickly Wednesday morning, with the head of Kerman’s emergency services telling state-run media it was at 103 by 10 a.m. EST.

Another 141 people were injured, he said.

Following the apparent attack, Iran’s Head of Judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, said the perpetrators will be found and punished.

“The agents and perpetrators of this grievous crime will undoubtedly be punished,” Mohseni-Ejei said in a statement, according to Al-Jazeera.

“Responsible intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies are obligated to promptly pursue all the evidence and perpetrators and hand them over to the judiciary.”

[ETCM]

I googled “karma” and this attack was the top result. Iran vs ISIS. Hard to pick a team here.