Attack at Iran military parade leaves 24 dead

TEHRAN:   A terrorist  attack at a military parade in  Iran on Saturday left   24 people  dead and many others   injured.

"There are a number of non-military victims, including women and children who had come to watch the parade," Official IRNA state run news agency IRNA quoted an unnamed official source as saying.

The incident took place in   Iran’s southern city of Ahvaz  when gunmen opened fire on people from behind the stand during the parade held to mark the  Iraq's invasion of Iran which led to an eight-year war in the 1980s.

"It has been reported that four or five of the elements of the terrorist incident were killed by security and law enforcement forces," Press TV quoted state-run IRNA news agency as saying. 

AFP adds

Iran was holding a number of parades in cities including the capital Tehran and the port of Bandar Abbas on the Gulf to mark the start of the country's 1980-88 war with Iraq.

"Shooting began by several gunmen from behind the stand during the parade. There are several killed and injured," a correspondent told state television.

State television blamed "takfiri elements", for the attack in Ahvaz, the centre of Khuzestan province, which has been the site of sporadic protests by Iran´s Arab minority.

Reuters adds

Iran to respond "swiftly and decisively" to military parade attack - foreign minister

 Iran will respond "swiftly and decisively" to an attack on a military parade in southwestern Iran, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, holding agents of a foreign regime responsible.

"Terrorists recruited, trained, armed & paid by a foreign regime have attacked Ahvaz," Zarif tweeted.

"Iran will respond swiftly and decisively in defense of Iranian lives.