Iran sniper waited for orders to hit attackers

Lawmaker cites video, says negligence by security forces caused Ahvaz attack

Aprominent Iranian lawmaker said an attack on a military parade in the city of Ahvaz that killed 24 people was the result of negligence by security forces, semi-official ISNA news agency reported yesterday.

The report quoted the head of Iran’s parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, as saying a video shot by the Intelligence Ministry and the Army makes this clear.

“The cameraman begged a sniper to shoot the attackers, but the sniper waited for his commander’s order,” he said, describing the video.

Ninety-two lawmakers and the intelligence and interior ministers reviewed the video of last Saturday’s attack.

“There were eight or nine snipers who were easily able to kill the terrorists in 30 seconds,” Falahatpisheh said.

He said one sniper did not at first believe an attack was taking place, but when he saw people were being killed he still did not shoot, saying he didn’t get an order to fire.