Up to 7 dead in attacks on Iran parliament, mausoleum

LONDON: Attackers raided Iran’s parliament and set off a suicide bomb at the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini in Teheran yesterday, killing up to seven people in a twin assault at the heart of the Islamic Republic, Iranian media reported.

The Iranian Intelligence Ministry said security forces had arrested a ‘‘terrorist team’’ plan ning a third attack, without giving further details.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement. If confirmed, they would be the first assaults by the hardline Sunni Muslim group inside the Shi’ite Muslim country.

The attacks, targeting parliament and the shrine of the Republic’s revered founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, took place less than a month after the reelection of President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate.

Three assailants, one with a pistol and two with AK47 assault rifles, attacked the parliament building in central Teheran, lawmaker Elias Hazrati told state television.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that one attacker detonated a suicide vest there, though some other news agencies said the explosion might have been caused by grenades thrown by the assailants.

Tasmin news agency said there were unconfirmed reports the attackers had taken four hostages inside the parliament building. Up to seven people died and several others were wounded, it added.

About half an hour later, attackers opened fire at the mausoleum a few kilometres south of the city, wounding several members of the public, Iran’s Englishlanguage Press TV said.

One attacker detonated a suicide vest, one was killed by security forces and other assailants were arrested, the Governor of Teheran was quoted as saying by IRIB.

‘‘The atmosphere is tense. It is a blow to Rouhani. How can four armed men enter the parliament, where a very tight security has always been in place,’’ said a senior official, who asked not to be named. — Reuters