Terrorists Behind Bomb Blast in Mashhad Denounced by Muslims
September 18, 1999 - 0:0
TEHRAN -- The terrorists who planted a bomb in a crowded square near the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad on Thursday were denounced by the Iranian people as well as the Muslims in other countries. As the result of the bomb blast in Bait-ul-Moqaddas Square, two pilgrims were martyred and 10 injured. A journalist, talking to the TEHRAN TIMES, said, "These terrorists who kill innocent people are like animals or even worse." He was referring to Verse 179 of Chapter 7 of the Holy Qoran, which says, "...They are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors;..." "The terrorists even bombed the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the Eighth Imam of the Infallible Household of the Holy Prophet (S), just a few years ago," he further recalled.
"These terrorists are out of their minds, as they are acting against all human principles," he noted. The Iranian people from all social strata denounced the bomb blast in Mashhad. Several Islamic personalities from other countries also condemned the attack. The reports coming from Mashhad said that the security forces have arrested a few suspects in connection with the explosion. An earlier report said that a garbage collector and a pilgrim had been martyred and 10 others injured in the blast in the Holy City of Mashhad, which draws millions of pilgrims every year.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said the "relatively strong" blast also damaged nearby cars and shattered windows. It said three of the injured were hospitalized, while the remaining seven were released after receiving treatment. The television showed footage of municipality workers sweeping a street covered with shattered glass, as a crowd shouted slogans against the bombing. "Death to Munafeqin (hypocrites)," they chanted, referring to the Iraq-based terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO). In 1994, a bomb blast inside the Holy Shrine killed 26 people.
The following investigation revealed that the MKO was responsible for the blast. The MKO also claimed responsibility for the assassination of the deputy chief of the general staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Ali Sayyad Shirazi. It had previously martyred a former prison head, Assadollah Lajavardi.
"These terrorists are out of their minds, as they are acting against all human principles," he noted. The Iranian people from all social strata denounced the bomb blast in Mashhad. Several Islamic personalities from other countries also condemned the attack. The reports coming from Mashhad said that the security forces have arrested a few suspects in connection with the explosion. An earlier report said that a garbage collector and a pilgrim had been martyred and 10 others injured in the blast in the Holy City of Mashhad, which draws millions of pilgrims every year.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said the "relatively strong" blast also damaged nearby cars and shattered windows. It said three of the injured were hospitalized, while the remaining seven were released after receiving treatment. The television showed footage of municipality workers sweeping a street covered with shattered glass, as a crowd shouted slogans against the bombing. "Death to Munafeqin (hypocrites)," they chanted, referring to the Iraq-based terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO). In 1994, a bomb blast inside the Holy Shrine killed 26 people.
The following investigation revealed that the MKO was responsible for the blast. The MKO also claimed responsibility for the assassination of the deputy chief of the general staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Ali Sayyad Shirazi. It had previously martyred a former prison head, Assadollah Lajavardi.