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Gunmen and suicide bombers have attacked Iran's Parliament and the shrine of its revolutionary leader, killing at least 12 people, injuring dozens and igniting an hours-long siege at the legislature.
Key points:
- Attackers reportedly stormed Iran's parliament armed with Kalashnikovs
- Another attack at the shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini said to have left one dead
- Sunni extremists are at war with Shiite-majority Iran's proxies in Syria and Iraq
The Islamic State group claimed the attacks, marking the first time the Sunni extremists have taken responsibility for an assault in Shiite-majority Iran.
IS militants are at war with Iranian-backed forces in Syria and Iraq, and view Shiites as apostates.
The attacks began midmorning when assailants armed with Kalashnikov rifles stormed the parliament building.
One of the attackers later blew himself up inside, where a session had been in progress, according to a statement carried by Iran's state TV.
Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Hossein Zolfaghari told Iran's state TV the apparently male attackers wore women's attire. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the siege had ended with four of the attackers killed.
"One of them was shot dead and another one detonated his suicide vest," Mr Hossein Zolfaghari said.
At least 12 people were killed by the attackers, the head of Iran's emergency department, Pir-Hossein Kolivand, was quoted as saying by state broadcaster IRIB.
A 24-second video released by the IS group's Aamaq news agency purported to show the siege.
The video, circulated online, shows a gunman and a bloody, lifeless body of a man lying on the ground next to a desk.
A voice on the video praises God and says in Arabic: "Do you think we will leave? We will remain, God willing." Another voice repeats the same words.
The two appeared to be parroting a slogan used by IS spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, who was killed in Syria last year.
Several police snipers could be seen on the rooftops of buildings around the parliament.
Shops in the area were shuttered, and gunfire could be heard.
Witnesses said the attackers were shooting from the fourth floor of the parliament building down at people in the streets below.
"I was inside the Parliament when shooting happened. Everyone was shocked and scared," one journalist, who asked not to be named, said.
"I saw two men shooting randomly."
Ebrahim Ghanimi, who was around the parliament building when the assailants stormed in said: "I was passing by one of the streets. I thought that children were playing with fireworks, but I realised people are hiding and lying down on the streets."
"With the help of a taxi driver, I reached a nearby alley."
Police helicopters circled over the parliament building and all mobile phone lines from inside were disconnected.
The semi-official ISNA news agency said all entrance and exit gates at Parliament were closed and that lawmakers and reporters were ordered to remain in place inside the chamber.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani called the attack a cowardly act.
"Iran is an active and effective pillar in the fight against terrorists and they want to damage it," he said.
Symbolic attack
Soon after the parliament attack, a suicide bomber and other assailants targeted the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini located just outside the capital, Tehran, according to Iran's official state broadcaster.
It said a security guard was killed and that one of the attackers was killed by security guards. A woman was also arrested.
Ayatollah Khomeini, who died in 1989, is a towering figure in Iran.
He led the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the Western-backed shah and became Iran's first supreme leader.
Security forces, some uniformed and others in plainclothes, surrounded the large and ornate shrine after the attack.
The IS group often claims attacks around the world, even when links to the group cannot be confirmed and appear dubious.
Iranian security officials have not said who they suspect is behind the attacks, though state media has referred to the attackers as "terrorists".
Sunni extremists, including the IS, despise Shiite-majority Iran. Iran has also come under attack in the past by Arab insurgents.
The unusual attacks in Iran prompted the Interior Ministry to call for an urgent security meeting, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
AP/Reuters
Topics: crime, law-crime-and-justice, government-and-politics, community-and-society, terrorism, iran-islamic-republic-of
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