Police increase patrols in Teheran after a pair of stunning assaults
TEHERAN — Police increased their patrols in the streets and subway stations of Teheran on Thursday, a day after a pair of stunning Islamic State-claimed attacks on Iran’s parliament and the tomb of its revolutionary leader killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 40.
Commuters in the Iranian capital noticed police on street corners and motorcycles, more than usual as dawn broke. That came after Mohammad Hossein Zolfaghari, a deputy Interior Minister, told state TV that “law enforcement activities may increase”.
State television also reported on Thursday that the death toll in the attacks had risen to 16 people killed, citing Ahmad Shojaei, the head of the country’s forensic center.
China strongly condemned the twin terrorist attacks, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Thursday.
“We extend our condolences to the victims and express our sympathy to the wounded and the relatives of the victims,” Hua said.
Stressing that China opposes terrorism in any form, she said Beijing is willing to cooperate more with the international community to fight terrorism.
The attack on Wednesday as lawmakers held a session in parliament and at the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini shocked Iranians who so far had avoided the bloodshed that has followed the IS group’s rise in Syria and Iraq.
The bloodshed shocked the country and came as emboldened Sunni Arab states backed by US President Donald Trump are hardening their stance against Shiiteruled Iran.
The White House released a statement from Trump condemning the terrorist attacks in Teheran and offering condolences, but also implying that Iran is itself a sponsor of terrorism.
“We grieve and pray for the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks in Iran, and for the Iranian people, who are going through such challenging times,” the statement
takes cover during an attack on the Iranian parliament in Teheran on Wednesday.
said. “We underscore that states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote.”
‘Repugnant’ claims
The comments sparked anger from Iranians on social media, who recalled the vigils in Teheran that followed the Sept 11 attacks. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a tweet on Thursday called the White House comments “repugnant” and accused the US of supporting terror.
“Iranian people reject such US claims of friendship,” Zarif tweeted.
Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard indirectly blamed Saudi Arabia for the attacks. A statement issued on Wednesday stopped short of alleging direct Saudi involvement but called it “meaningful” that the attacks followed Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, where he strongly asserted Washington’s support for Riyadh.
The multipurpose aircraft lost contact 29 minutes after takeoff while flying at 5,500 meters over the Andaman Sea, about 70 km west of the town of Dawei, the Myanmar military said.
The maker of the transport plane, China National AeroTechnology Import and Export Corporation, said in a statement that it will fully assist Myanmar in the investigation.
Searchers also found an aircraft wheel and two life jackets on Thursday. Some bags with clothes — believed to be from the missing plane — were found earlier.
Some patches of oil were spotted 30 km from Dawei, the military said.
More than 40 ambulances and scores of medics and emergency staff were heading to the fishing town of Sanlan where boats carrying bodies were set to arrive around midday, said Hla Thein, a member of a hospital emergency team.
The plane was carrying 108 soldiers and their family members as well as a crew of 14. The military said the 108 passengers included 15 children, 58 adults and 35 soldiers.
It is the rainy season in Myanmar but a civil aviation official said the weather had been “normal” with good visibility when the plane took off.
The aircraft was bought in March last year and had a total of 809 flying hours. It was carrying 2.4 tons of supplies, the military said.
Aircraft accidents are not uncommon in Myanmar.
A military helicopter crashed last June in central Myanmar, killing three military personnel on board. Five military personnel were killed in February last year when an air force aircraft crashed in the capital, Naypyitaw, media reported.