The 2009 Pishin bombing occurred on October 18, 2009, when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at a meeting in the southeastern Iranian town of Pishin in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The attack killed at least 43 people including several notable Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, or Revolutionary Guards) commanders,[1] and injured a further 150.[2]
| Pishin bombing | |
|---|---|
 Location of Sistan and Baluchestan Province within Iran | |
| Location | Pishin in Sistan and Baluchestan Province |
| Coordinates | 26°5′13″N 61°45′37″E / 26.08694°N 61.76028°E |
| Date | October 18, 2009 (UTC+04.30) |
Attack type | Suicide bombing |
| Weapons | Suicide Bomb |
| Deaths | 43 people including several notable IRGC commanders |
| Injured | 150 |
| Perpetrator | Jundallah |
Among those killed were Noor Ali Shooshtari, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guard's ground forces, Rajab Ali, the commander in Sistan-Baluchestan, the commander for the town of Iranshahr and the commander of the Amir Al-Momenin unit.[3] About 10 senior tribal figures were also among the dead.[4] The Revolutionary Guard leaders killed were buried two days later in a military funeral. The funeral was attended by thousands of mourners.[5] 43 people were killed, and another died in the hospital.
Iran blamed the United States for involvement in the attacks,[6] as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom for their support of the Jundallah terrorist group.[7] The United States denied involvement.[8] President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed a "swift response" to the attacks;[9] the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted him as saying, "The criminals will soon get the response for their inhuman crimes."[10] The incident was condemned by the United Nations Security Council.[2]
The chargé d'affaires of Pakistan was summoned by the Iranian Foreign Ministry as the attack was thought to have been launched from Pakistani soil.[11] Iran accused Pakistani agents of involvement in the incident and called on Pakistan to apprehend the attackers.[12] An Iranian delegation demanded Pakistan handover Jundullah chief Abdolmalek Rigi. This decision came after Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied Rigi was on Pakistani soil.[13] Pakistan handed over to Iran the brother of the Jundullah leader Abdolmalek Rigi.[14] Iran's police chief held Pakistan responsible for the attack.[15]
Several suspects were later arrested by Iran.[16]
Reaction
edit
Iran – The Government and Media of Iran blamed the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel for the attack.[citation needed]
Pakistan – Interior Minister Rehman Malik said, "we can even point out his [Abdul Malik Rigi's] exact location in Afghanistan".[17]
See also
edit- 2007 Zahedan bombings (a previous Jundallah attack that targeted the Revolutionary Guards)
References
edit- ^ Iranian commanders assassinated. BBC News. October 18, 2009.
- ^ a b UN Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attacks in Iran. Xinhua. October 20, 2009.
- ^ ‘Elite’ generals among nearly 50 killed in Iran suicide attack. Daily Times of Pakistan. October 19, 2009.
- ^ Suicide bomber kills 35 in attack on Iran Guards Archived 2013-10-21 at the Wayback Machine Trend News Agency. October 18, 2009
- ^ Iran mourns suicide bomb victims. BBC News. October 20, 2009.
- ^ Larijani Blames US for Terrorist Attack on IRGC Commanders Archived 2012-01-12 at the Wayback Machine. Fars News Agency. October 18, 2009.
- ^ Iran vows response to suicide blast. Al Jazeera. October 18, 2009.
- ^ Derakhsi, Reza (October 19, 2009). US, UK behind attack on Guards, claims Iran. The Independent.
- ^ President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad orders swift action against Iran bombers. The Times of India. October 19, 2009.
- ^ Dareni, Ali Akbar; Murphy, Brian (October 18, 2009). Iran bombing kills 5 Revolutionary Guard leaders. Associated Press.
- ^ Iran summons Pakistani charge d'affairs over deadly bomb attack. Xinhua. October 18, 2009.
- ^ Iran accuses Pakistan over attack. BBC News. October 18, 2009.
- ^ Tehran to demand Pakistan hand over alleged attack mastermind Archived 2009-10-20 at the Wayback Machine. France 24. October 19, 2009.
- ^ "Bombings in Iran". Dawn. October 19, 2009. Archived from the original on 22 October 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
- ^ Police Chief Holds Pakistan Accountable for Terror Attack in Iran Archived 2012-01-11 at the Wayback Machine. Fars News Agency. October 21, 2009.
- ^ Iran arrests suspects in attack on military chiefs[dead link]. Associated Press. October 21, 2009.
- ^ "India behind most terror attacks, says Malik". Dawn. October 22, 2009. Archived from the original on 23 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-22.