Death Toll in Iran Explosion Up to 12

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian officials raised the death toll from an explosion in a packed mosque in southern Iran to 12 on Sunday and said more than 200 had been injured in the blast.

Iranian media initially quoted local officials as saying the explosion Saturday in the city of Shiraz was caused by a homemade bomb and could have been religiously motivated.

But officials gave a different account on Sunday, saying it was an accident possibly caused by ammunition leftover from a recent military exhibition in the mosque.

"It was not because of bombing," said Abbas Mohtaj, deputy interior minister in charge of security. The "explosion was due to an accident which is under investigation," he added.

The cause of the explosion could not be independently verified.

The blast ripped through a mosque packed with about 1,000 worshippers as a cleric was delivering his weekly speech against the fundamentalist Wahabi strain of Islam and the outlawed Bahai faith, the semiofficial Fars news agency said.

The blast was rare in Shiraz, a normally peaceful city about 440 miles south of Tehran. The city is a major draw for foreign tourists who come to see the ruins of nearby Persepolis, the capital of ancient Persia.

Iran is predominantly Shiite Persian but has faced several deadly attacks in recent years said to have ethnic and religious motivation _ though none have seriously threatened the government.

In February 2007, a car loaded with explosives detonated by a bus with members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, killing 11 of them and wounding more than 30 in southeastern Iran. A Sunni militant group seen linked to al-Qaida, Jundallah or God's Brigade, claimed responsibility.

Besides the violence in the southeast, ethnic Arab Sunni militants have been blamed for bombings in the western city of Ahvaz near the border of Iraq _ including blasts in 2006 that killed nine people.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said early Sunday that no group has claimed responsibility for the explosion. He spoke before the Interior Ministry official said the explosion was an accident.

The police chief of southern Fars Province, Gen. Ali Moayyedi, also said the explosion was not a bombing and rejected links to "any sort of insurgency."

Moayyedi, in comments carried by state IRNA news agency, said the initial investigation found remnants of ammunition from a military exhibition that was held recently at the mosque.

A witness to the blast, Mostafa Nazari, told The Associated Press that some 1,000 worshippers had gathered at the mosque grounds to hear a cleric speak. He said it was fortunate the blast happened at a part of the building far from the podium, around which most of the audience had crowded.

"Otherwise it would have caused more casualties," Nazari said.

The explosion was so powerful it shook houses a mile away.

Comments

[ceasenake]

What kind of church has a military exibition, complete with explosives. Oh, that's right - it's the religion of peace.

[Marichu]

More than likely (for political reasons), the government of Iran is downplaying what actually happened. First it was reported that the explosion was from a homemade bomb, then it was from ammunition accidentally leftover at the mosque. This is beginning to have the makings of the multiple explanations by the Pakistani government over the cause of death of Benazir Bhutto. I am also skeptical over the reported number of casualties by the Iranian government. One would think that an explosion that shook houses one mile away would have cause more than 12 casualties even if the explosion took place farther from where most of the people were gathered at the mosque. Though with 200 people hurt, who knows the extent and degree of those injuries.

[ohiomark]

I though Islam was a religion of peace. What were they doing with ammo in a mosque?

Let me guess, they are the headquarters for the local neighborhood watch.

End sarcasm.

[Boobaloo]

Yes, and we're beacons of Democracy.

That's why the American government enshrined Sharia Law in the new Iraqi constitution.

End sarcasm.

[apeman]

"Atheists are the least racist people on earth "

You know I think you might have hit on something there Boobs . Let's see famous atheists...Christopher Hitchens, hates all religion, is particularly vocal about Islam. But Islam isn't a race so he's not racist. Then there's Sam Harris (author of The End of Faith), loathes are religion and is particularly vocal about ..erm..yes Islam. But he's not racist either because Islam isn't a race.. Youtube star Pat Condell, hates all religion is extremely loud about...yes you've guessed is. Islam. But he's not a racist either because ISLAM ISN'T A RACE IT'S A RELIGION.

[jimmyaj]

"...remnants of ammunition from a military exhibition that was held recently at the mosque."

When will people learn that it's not a good idea to mix politics and religion? Why didn't they do like redneck Americans, just have a gun show at the mosque? Everything would have sold out and nothing would be left to explode...

[browndog2]

If you're going to make that kind of post,don't be suprised if people point out what an asshole you are.

[themodernleader]

Blutus: "men of words" are those intellectuals throughout the world who are trained and equipped to counter those who advocate ideas that are so righteous and all encompassing that they justify the destruction of groups, races, even civilizations for their preservation or perpetuation.

[eyecon]

This discussion sheds light on just how little people understand about the Middle East. In simple terms, during World Ware One, England promised the Arabs complete autonomy over Arabia while also promising a Jewish homeland to to the Zionists. Meanwhile, unknown to both, the French and English were dividing up the land via the secret Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916. In 1918, Chaim Weizmann and Emir Faisal had a very productive meeting at Rothschild's home. Out of respect Weizmann wore Arab garb. For his part Faisal claimed that the two Semitic cultures were natural allies. They forged an alliance and an agreement that provided for an exchange of resources and technology and recognition of the Balfour Declaration.

The Faisal-Weizmann agreement was conditioned on England fulfilling their wartime commitments which they reneged on. Britain expelled Faisal from Syria and he established a monarchy in Iraq. Arab-Israeli relations deteriorated to the point where, by 1938, the Peel conference established that partitioning was impossible.

The Grand Mufti spent World War Two in Berlin at Hitler's side. By the time of Israel's statehood in 1948 the conflict evolved from Israelis and Arabs to Jews and Muslims. Our (USA) support for Israel was support for their right to exist. The rest is, well, a continuing history.

[Ramirez]

Good post.

[CarolinaDem]

Hey, thanks for a clear and helpful historical in put! Great stuff.

[Durango]

Yeah, Faisal got to be the King of Iraq as a consolation prize after getting kicked out of Syria by the French. WTF!?!?

Nothing like spreading Democracy in the world.

Ever wonder why people in the Middle East don't trust westerners. Imagine being ruled by a King who is not from your country. In fact may never have been in your country.

BTW It was all about the OIL back then. And it is still about the Oil. And everything in between has been about the OIL!

[eyecon]

That is the point. Imagine if we had been spending $13 billion per month on an alternative energy surge. We have developed the weapons technology to put a missile up a specific camel's ass yet our lack of energy technology means that we have to do business with people who hate us.

Meanwhile, Iraq has an impressive budget surplus while China is holding a half-trillion dollars in US T bills and our infrastructure is crumbling. It will take decades to unravel this mess and our great grandchildren will still be paying the bill.

[Blutus]

I'm pretty sure if Iran had any evidence of American involvement
they would certainly be talking about it.

And to expect tears and sack-cloth every time a bomb goes off in the Mid East
is silly.

To not condone does not mean we have to get suicidal.

And this story is not on the front page of any site I have checked.

Tiger. That's the story. That's how much the world's troubles
trouble America.

[garbovatwins]

Take a close look at this image, one of millions happening daily on your world. Such energy wasted. Such hatred and lack of value for precious life. Just imagine if the occupants of your world spent as much energy embracing each other, indeed healing your world. The universe is yours as surely as it is ours, and it is watching.

[forpeace]

*

garbovatwins
..........The universe is yours as surely as it is ours, and it is watching.
================

Unfortunately for some people the Universe has no meaning, when it comes to Money and Power.

*

[BuckeyeNut]

Cant believe you all: Israel or US didnt cause this. More likely some of the IED's that they manufacture in their Mosques went off. Happens all the time in Gaza and West Bank.

[Ramirez]

True. The Israelis even have a term for that. It's called a "work-related incident."

[MajorKong]

I don't think it was "us" directly. Can't imagine why we'd go to all that trouble just to blow up a mosque.

However, we do support anti-Iranian groups like the MEK and it certainly could have been them.

[forpeace]

*

BuckeyeNut
....some of the IED's that they manufacture in their Mosques went off.....
=================

Any prove of that?

Or just because you say so!

*

[BuckeyeNut]

Of course I cant prove that. But all of the authorities in Iran state that it was an "accident" I think most people would agree that some of the Islamists use their Mosques for other purposes then praising Allah. Many people here just assumed that the US was responsible or Israel and they cannot prove that either. I think that my explanation is just as reasonable as those. If the Iranians suspected a military action against them they would be screaming to high heaven. They aren't.

[bacaja]

Iran has a strong central government which seems reasonably capable of keeping the
various religious and political factions within the country working together for the common
good. Of course Iraq had pretty much the same thing until that central government was
destroyed and the country dissolved into chaos and interfactional fighting. Needless to
say internal strife plays into the hands of external enemies who would do them harm
by any means.

[MadCow]

bacaja, yours is a carefully worded, excellent post.
Sadly though, it reminds me a little of how careful the people were with words under USSR occupation.

[HatingTheGame]

Looks like psy-opps and false flag operations are underway. I feel sorry for more innocent dead Iranians, and more not as innocent, but blameless, dead American soldiers. What a waste, what an utter waste.

Hang on America, its gonna get a lot more ugly before it gets prettier. At least bombing Iran will get our minds off of our economic crisis at home -- nothing like a few more billions of government dollars spent on war infused into the economy to stave off our economic collapse -- just like 911 saved us from dot com hell, and Iraq war put off the recession, and now we need more more more.

Sigh...

[Montanamotor]

Next, expect a huge explosion in Israel, blowing up another seminary or, perhaps, even a christian church (Betlehem?). Then the blame will be put on a. Hamas, b. Hezbollah, c. Syria, d. Iran (you name it), and off we go...

[forpeace]

*

Montanamotor
.......the blame will be put on a. Hamas, b. Hezbollah, c. Syria, d. Iran (you name it), and off we go...
=================

They have so many in their list, they always find someone to blame.

*

[DanaGarrett]

The surge is working. John McCain said so and he has lots of experience. So ignore the facts.

[Montanamotor]

What experience? Getting caught and shot down while bombing vietnamese villages, spending four years as a POW, selling military secrets for food and medical treatment, you call experience? Or, am I only missing the irony in your comment?

[eyecon]

Look, I agree that McCain has about five points greater IQ than George which puts him intellectually north of shrubbery and somewhere south of citrus fruit. Nevertheless, there is not a shred of proof that McCain was ever disloyal. Hyperbole is the enemy of meaningful dialog.

[Durango]

This is very curious. Why doesn't Iran immediately blame the USA or Zionists? Certainly nearly everyone in the world would believe it.

In similar circumstances in the west, including the USA ,officials would fall all over themselves to deny that explosions were the work of "terrorists." Even when it turned out they were. I found that very strange. The government spends all this time and energy scaring it's people in case of an attack and then when an attack comes they immediately deny it.

I agree completely with others on this thread. Violence is terrible. And why any American, who is afraid of terrorist attacks in the USA, would condone the exact same action in Iran is a mystery. (aside from the fact we have some very dumb and very bad people in America.)

After all, we are in a "War On Terror." Which should include terrorist attacks wherever and whenever they occur.

[forpeace]

*

Durango
Why doesn't Iran immediately blame the USA or Zionists?
=================

Maybe they do investigation first before jumping up and down to blame it on others.

*

[Viper]

Actually the Sermon was anti Wasabi.. Sunni Islam extremist beliefs.. which comes out of Saudi Arabia and gives rise to Al Qeada and supplies 90% of the suicide bombers...


Regardsa

[eyecon]

"Wasabi" is a sushi condiment. The sermon was anti-Wahabi.

[Blutus]

It's just too hot! And has that odd green color!