In a significant development, Iran’s intelligence ministry has pinpointed a key suspect, described as the mastermind and bomb-maker, in the recent twin suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State group. The attack, which occurred on January 3, targeted a commemoration for an Iranian general slain in a 2020 U.S. drone strike in Iraq, marking the deadliest incident in Iran in decades.
The ceremony took place in Kerman, approximately 820 kilometers southeast of Tehran. Two suicide bombers orchestrated the attack, with the first detonating explosives during the event and the second striking 20 minutes later as emergency personnel and others rushed to aid the wounded from the initial blast.
The intelligence ministry, as reported by the official IRNA news agency, revealed that the primary suspect behind the planning of the bombing is a Tajik national known by the alias Abdollah Tajiki. According to the statement, the suspect entered Iran in mid-December through the southeast border and left the country just two days before the attack, having assembled the explosive devices.
The report also identified one of the suicide bombers by the name Bozrov, a 24-year-old individual with dual Tajik and Israeli nationality. Bozrov reportedly entered Iran after receiving months of training from the Islamic State in Afghanistan.
While authorities have successfully arrested 35 individuals across several provinces believed to have links to the bombings, the report highlighted that efforts are still underway to identify the second suicide bomber. The Islamic State group had previously claimed responsibility for the attack, identifying the two bombers as Omar al-Mowahed and Seif-Allah al-Mujahed.
In a tragic update, the death toll from the twin suicide attack has now risen to 94, with Iranian media reporting that 14 of the victims were Afghan nationals participating in the commemoration for Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani had led the paramilitary’s expeditionary Quds Force, and the commemoration event was held to honor his memory.
As the investigation continues, this latest revelation sheds light on the intricate details of the terror plot, emphasizing the need for heightened security measures in the region amid ongoing tensions.
Sources By Agencies
