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In a solemn ceremony commemorating the 2020 death of Qassem Soleimani, tragedy unfolded near a cemetery in Iran as two explosions, attributed to 'terrorist attacks,' resulted in the loss of at least 20 lives and left dozens wounded, according to Iranian officials on Wednesday.
As reported by Reuters, the incidents occurred during the ceremony in the southeastern city of Kerman, with Iranian state television reporting a first and then a second explosion.
The severity of the situation was emphasized as local officials in the Kerman province stated, "The blasts were caused by terrorist attacks."
Earlier reports from the semi-official Nournews suggested a possible cause, mentioning that "several gas canisters exploded on the road leading to the cemetery."
The chaos ensuing from the attacks was captured by state TV, showing Red Crescent rescuers rushing to attend to the wounded. Hundreds of Iranians had gathered at the ceremony to mark the anniversary of Soleimani's death.
Some Iranian news agencies reported at least 50 people wounded in the aftermath of the explosions.
Reza Fallah, head of the Kerman province Red Crescent, addressed the challenges faced by rapid response teams, stating, "Our teams are evacuating the injured... But there are waves of crowds blocking roads."
As Iran grapples with this tragic turn of events, the international community watches closely, recognizing the impact on both regional stability and the remembrance of a pivotal figure in the country's history.
[With information sourced from Reuters]
