Iran arrests 11 over twin bombings in SE city

The Iranian Intelligence Ministry said on Friday that it has arrested 11 people in six provinces for suspected involvement in the deadly twin bombings in the southeastern province of Kerman, reported Xinhua.

In a statement published on its website, the ministry condemned the "terrorist disaster," which took place near the tomb of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Kerman on Wednesday, killing at least 89 people and wounding some 280.

The Iranian intelligence managed to track down "terrorists" of the Islamic State (IS) shortly after the attack and cooperated with other security and police units to identify other suspects who had assisted the bombers, according to the statement.

It added one of the two "suicide terrorists" was a Tajik, noting that the identity of the other had not been determined yet.

The ministry said the first detention operation was carried out on Wednesday evening after identifying those who had transferred the "terrorists" into the country, adding the terrorists' lodging was located in the suburbs of Kerman in the early hours of Thursday, and two backup agents who had provided the bombers with accommodation were arrested.

The intelligence then located and arrested another nine members of the backup network of the "terrorist team" in six provinces, it added.

The ministry said it also found two explosive vests, two remote controls, two detonators, thousands of lead shots used in explosive vests, and some other explosive materials at the residence of the "terrorists."

The IS terrorist group claimed responsibility for the bombings on Thursday, saying two suicide attackers carried out the blasts.

The incident marked one of the deadliest attacks on Iran in decades. The explosions occurred near Soleimani's burial site in Kerman, where many Iranians had gathered to honor the late general, who was assassinated in a U.S. drone attack on Jan. 3, 2020.