2008 Shiraz explosion

Infobox terrorist attack
title=2008 Shiraz Explosion


caption=
location=Shiraz, Iran
target=
date=April 12, 2008
time=21:15pm
timezone=UTC+3.30
type=
fatalities= 12
injuries= 202
perps=Anjoman-e Padeshahi-e Iran
motive=The 2008 Shiraz explosion was an April 12, 2008 explosion that occurred during prayers at the Hosseynieh Seyed al-Shohada Mosque in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz. Twelve people were killed and 202 were injured.cite web | title = Iran Mosque Explosion Kills 12, Injures 202 in City of Shiraz | first = Ladane | last = Nasseri | publisher = Bloomberg | date = 2008-04-13 | accessdate = 2008-04-19 | url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aP2AS3o2xVVI&refer=asia] Around 800 people, which were mostly youth, were gathered at the Mosque to hear sermons which usually include sermons attacking the Wahabi denomination of Sunni Islam and the Bahá'í Faith.cite web | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/04/12/iran.explosion/index.html | title = Report: Deadly blast in Iran caused by munitions | date = 2008-04-14 | accessdate = 2008-04-19 | publisher = CNN | first = Shirzad | last = Bozorgmehr] .

The deputy governor of the province, Mohammad Reza Hadaegh, told IRIB an investigation was under way.cite web | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSHAF273280 | title = Bomb blast in south Iran mosque kills 9, wounds 105 | date = 2008-04-12 | accessdate = 2008-04-19 | publisher = Reuters | first = Zahra | last = Hosseinian | coauthors = Jaseb, Hossein] Iranian officials first stated that the blast was not a terrorist attack, but caused by leftover munitions that were on display in the mosque as part of an exhibition commemorating Iran's 1980-1988 war against Iraq.cite web | title = Shiraz Blast not a Bomb Attack | author = Fars News Agency | publisher = Fars News Agency | date = 2008-04-16 | accessdate = 2008-04-12 | url = http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8701280686] However, in May, Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi said the blast was an act of terrorism and 12 terrorists had been arrested before they attacked the Russian Consulate and religious centers in Qom.cite web | url = http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-24/0805081636010259.htm | title = Shiraz mosque blast was act of sabotage: Minister | date = 2008-05-08 | accessdate = 2008-05-26 | publisher = IRNA | first = | last = ] . Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejehei accused United States and Britain of involvement in the bombing and attempted to press charges against the two countries.cite web | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/08/AR2008050803318.html | title = Iran Accuses U.S., Britain In Fatal Blast | date = 2008-05-9 | accessdate = 2008-05-26 | publisher = Washingtonpost | first =Thomas | last =Erdbrink ] cite web | url = http://www.roozonline.com/english/archives/2008/05/detainees_confess.html | title = Detainees Confess! | date = 2008-05-26 | accessdate = 2008-05-26 | publisher = | first = | last = ] cite web | url = http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/24751 | title = Terrorist attack at Russian Consulate in Iran foiled | date = 2008-05-14 | accessdate = 2008-05-26 | publisher =RussiaToday | first = | last = ]

An Iranian monarchist group calling itself the Soldiers of the Kingdom Assembly of Iran ("Anjoman-e Padeshahi-e Iran") claimed responsibility for the bombing. [http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2374183] [ [http://icga.blogspot.com/2008/05/strange-tale-of-shiraz-explosion.html strange-tale-of-shiraz-explosion] ]

Victims

List of victims [cite web
url=http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8701250534
title= اسامي کشته‌شدگان حادثه انفجار در شيراز
publisher=www.farsnews.com
accessdate=2008-04-13
last=
first=] [cite web
url=http://www2.irna.ir/es/news/view/line-87/0804160384140037.htm
title= Son enterradas las víctimas de la explosión de la mezquita Seyyed Al Shohada de Shiraz|publisher=IRNA
accessdate=2008-04-20
last=
first=]

ee also

*Ahvaz bombings
*2007 Zahedan bombings

References