Region | Iran

Official: Iran explosion caused by accident not attack

The explosion in a mosque in Iran that killed at least 10 people was caused by an accident and not an attack, a senior Interior Ministry official said on Sunday.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 13:44 April 13, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Reuters
  • A man cares for his mother as she rests in the Namazee hospital recovering from injuries sustained after an explosion in a mosque in Shiraz, 895km south of Tehran, on Sunday.
Image 1 of 2
12

Tehran: The explosion in a mosque in Iran that killed at least 10 people was caused by an accident and not an attack, a senior Interior Ministry official said on Sunday.

Contradicting earlier media reports, official IRNA news agency quoted the deputy interior minister in charge of national security as saying: “Last night's explosion in Shiraz was as a consequence of an accident and not the planting of a bomb.''

Details were not released but state Press TV television said the blast may have been "caused by explosives left behind from an earlier exhibition commemorating" the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

Fars News Agency also quoted commander of security forces in the southern Fars province as saying: "Based on the initial evaluation, the Saturday night explosion ... has not been intentional or sabotage.''

"The cause of the incident was probably laxness since a defence fair was held at this place some time ago. There is a possibility that the remaining ammunition at this place was the factor behind this explosion," he added.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said the investigation was continuing, stressing that no pre-judgement should be made.


Related Links

More from Iran

  1. Iran rejects halting nuke fuel production

  2. Will test Iran’s readiness to scale back nuke programme

  3. IAEA chief hopes for deal with Iran

  4. Political decisions clip the wings of youths

All articles in Iran

More from Region

Gulf News
Popular in News

More from News

News Editor's choice