The Shah Cheragh mausoleum in Tehran’s Fars province was the site of a shooting on Sunday, which resulted in the death of one person and injuries to seven others.
Iran’s Deputy Governor, Esmail Ghezel Sofla, identified the attacker as a Takfiri element and stated that they had been apprehended and are currently being interrogated by judicial authorities.
The term ‘takfiri’ is used in Iran to refer to jihadists or those who practice radical Sunni Islam.
The attacker was reported by the early media to have opened fire on individuals after being confronted by security guards at the shrine’s gates.
According to media reports, the wounded were transferred to medical centres and are currently receiving treatment.
The attack was reported by the media to have happened at approximately 7:00 pm (1530 GMT).
Reuters cited State TV to report that security forces had closed off the shrine area.
State media videos, as reported by Reuters, depicted panicked worshippers running to find their relatives and bloodied clothes left after the attack.
The attack has not been claimed by any group at present.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has ordered an investigation and promised to bring the culprits to justice, as reported by AFP citing IRNA.
According to AFP, Yadollah Bouali, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, told Iran’s State TV that a terrorist entered the shrine gate and used jihadist gunfire.
The shrine of Shah Cheragh, located in Shiraz, which is about 675 kilometres south of Tehran, is considered the holiest site in Iran. Ahmad’s tomb is there, and he is the eighth imam among the Shiite brothers.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a recent attack on the same holy shrine that resulted in 13 deaths and numerous injuries.
(With the assistance of agencies)