‘Unknown object’ explodes in north Tehran

A loud sound heard in north Tehran yesterday was caused by an “unknown object” exploding in a park, but there were no injuries, Iranian state TV said.

“An unknown object exploded. There was no damage and no one was hurt,” a reporter said.

Tehran deputy governor Hamid Goudarzi, who is in responsible for security, visited the site.

“Just one explosion took place inside Mellat [People] Park,” he told the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Asked whether the incident was an attack, Mr Goudarzi said: “We are investigating the dimensions and causes of the incident and we will provide information after we are sure.”

The 34-hectare Mellat Park is on the southern side of the 120-hectare campus of the state broadcasting company, which includes several buildings.

Attacks are rare in Iran, but a number of sensitive military and nuclear sites have been hit by explosions in recent years.

Iran has accused Israel of several attacks and the assassinations of scientists linked to its controversial nuclear programme.

Israel has neither denied nor confirmed the allegations.

Yesterday’s explosion came a day after a cyber attack disrupted train services across the country.

Hackers posted the phone number of supreme leader Ali Khamenei as the number to call for information, state-affiliated news outlets reported.

Trains were delayed or cancelled as ticket offices, the national railway’s website and cargo services were disrupted, with “unprecedented chaos at railway stations across the country”, state broadcaster IRIB said.

A notice on electronic boards at stations asked travellers to call a number which belonged to the office of Mr Khamenei, IRIB and the semi-official news agency Fars said.

Another notice said “long delays due to cyber attacks”, Fars reported.

IRIB later quoted a state railway company spokesman as saying technicians were checking the disruptions and denying that there were major delays.