Footage on Iran's state broadcaster Irib shows emergency services outside the parliament building in Tehran
Attacker blows himself up during assault on Iran parliament building
Published: Wed 7 Jun 2017, 10:24 AM
Last updated: Thu 8 Jun 2017, 12:21 PM
Attackers raided Iran's parliament and opened fire at the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini a few kilometers south of the capital on Wednesday morning, in near simultaneous assaults that killed up to seven people, media reported.
One attacker at the Iranian parliament exploded a suicide vest in the building, but some other news agencies said the explosion might have been caused by grenades thrown by the assailants.
Tasmin news agency said there were unconfirmed reports that the attackers had taken four hostages inside the parliament building.
Three assailants, one with a pistol and two with AK-47 assault rifles, carried out the attack in central Tehran, lawmaker Elias Hazrati told state television.
Another lawmaker said one of the assailants was surrounded by security forces and all the doors to the building had been closed, ISNA news agency reported. The attackers killed seven people and wounded several others, Tasmin said.
"I was inside the parliament when shooting happened. Everyone was shocked and scared. I saw two men shooting randomly," said one journalist at the scene, who asked not to be named.
Around half an hour later, an attacker opened fire at the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini, injuring several members of the public, Iran's English-language Press TV said.
State news agency IRNA quoted an official at the mausoleum as saying the attacker had set off a suicide bomb after shooting at people.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini launched the Islamic revolution in 1979.
Iranian TV said parliament had resumed, and broadcast footage of what it said was the opening session proceeding normally.
The Latest on attacks in Iran's parliament building and the shrine of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (all times local):
12.30
One attacker at the Iranian parliament exploded a suicide vest in the building, but some other news agencies said the explosion might have been caused by grenades thrown by the assailants.
Noon
Iran's state TV says four attackers were involved in a parliament shooting that is still underway, and that eight people have been wounded.
The state TV report did not provide further details, or say whether the shooting was linked to another attack Wednesday on the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. There, four attackers, including a suicide bomber, killed a security guard and wounded four other people.
State TV said one of the attackers was killed by security guards and that a woman was arrested following the shrine attack.
11:30am
Iran's state TV news website says four "terrorists," including a suicide bomber, have attacked the shrine of the late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in the capital, Tehran, killing a security guard and wounding four people.
State TV said one of the attackers was killed by security guards and that a woman was arrested following Wednesday's attack.
Iranian media earlier reported a shooting inside the parliament building that wounded a security guard, without providing further details. It was not immediately clear if the attacks were related.
11:15am
Iranian media says a man has opened fire inside the parliament building, wounding a security guard in an attack that is still underway.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency says medics are treating the guard. It did not provide further details about Wednesday's shooting.
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