DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Iranian authorities announced on Friday the arrest of 11 individuals suspected of involvement in the bomb blasts that claimed the lives of nearly 90 people at a memorial service for a slain military commander in Kerman, southeastern Iran. The Islamic State militant group has taken responsibility for the attacks that occurred on Wednesday. Iran’s intelligence ministry stated that security forces apprehended two individuals for aiding the two suicide bombers in Kerman and nine others suspected of connections to the incident in different parts of Iran.
The bombings marked the deadliest attacks in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. As the victims were laid to rest on Friday, mourners gathered to pay their respects, shedding tears over the coffins, while crowds chanted “revenge, revenge” as shown on state TV. The explosions happened amidst a tense period in the region as Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza neared the three-month mark.
The Intelligence Ministry disclosed that their agents confiscated explosive devices, raw materials, explosive vests, remote-control devices, detonators, and thousands of pellets utilized in explosive vests. They also identified one of the suicide bombers as a Tajik national. Islamic State confirmed on Thursday that two of its members had detonated explosive belts in the crowd gathered for General Qassem Soleimani’s memorial.
Revolutionary Guards commander Major-General Hossein Salami addressed the funeral in Kerman’s Imam Ali religious center and conveyed a strong message: “We will find you wherever you are.” President Ebrahim Raisi also made a televised address, stating, “Our forces will decide on the place and time to take action.” In 2022, Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on a Shiite shrine in Iran that resulted in 15 deaths. Previous attacks claimed by the group include twin bombings in 2017 targeting Iran’s parliament and the tomb of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
The series of arrests made by Iranian authorities in connection to the bomb blasts at the memorial service for General Soleimani have shed light on the continued threat posed by extremist groups in the region. As the investigation continues, the nation grapples with the aftermath of the tragic event that has shaken the community and sparked calls for retribution. The memory of the victims will be remembered as the authorities work to ensure the safety and security of the nation.