More arrests in Iran over Tehran attacks

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DUBAI, June 10, (RTRS): Iranian authorities have arrested seven people it suspects of helping militants involved in this week’s attacks in the capital Tehran, a judiciary official said on Saturday. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings and gun attacks on parliament and the mausoleum of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, that killed 17 people on Wednesday.

Ahmad Fazelian, a provincial judiciary official, said the seven, suspected of “providing support for the terrorist team”, were detained in Fardis, about 50 kms (31 miles) west of Tehran, the judiciary’s online news agency Mizan reported. On Friday, authorities announced the arrests of 41 suspects in connection with the twin Tehran attacks. Separately, the head of the judiciary in Fars province said seven people were detained in the southern Larestan area for possible ties to Islamic State, Iran’s ISNA news agency reported on Saturday.

Tehran police said the car the attackers used for both attacks was discovered on Saturday in the city centre. “The terrorists first went by the car to the mausoleum and after dropping two of them, went to the city centre to attack the parliament,” the police said in a statement published on state media. Fighting between rival tribesmen in southern Iran left 22 people dead on Friday night, an Iranian lawmaker was quoted by ILNA news agency as saying on Saturday.

“The incident last night in Ramhormoz county (in Khuzestan province) is rooted in an old tribal conflict,” the lawmaker, Hedayatollah Khademi, said. “Unfortunately in last night’s clash, advanced military weapons were used and 22 people were killed,” he said. Tribal fighting is common in southern Iran, where gun battles can break out, sometimes motivated by notions of traditional tribal justice.

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