Death toll from Iran mosque attacks rises to 22
The death toll from twin suicide bombings at a Shiite mosque in heavily Sunni southeast Iran rose to 22, a top provincial official told state television on Friday.
Ali Mohammad Azad, the governor general of Sistan-Baluchestan province, said the number of those wounded also rose to 160.
On Thursday, two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the Jamia mosque in the city of Zahedan, the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan, as worshippers were celebrating the birthday of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammed.
"The two blasts in front of the mosque have left 22 of our dear ones martyred and 160 wounded," Azad said.
He said some of the wounded were in critical condition and the death toll could rise further.
Azad confirmed that both the bombings were carried out by suicide bombers within minutes of each other, in which a number of security personnel were also slain.
Zahedan has been repeatedly hit by attacks blamed on Sunni rebel group Jundallah (Soldiers of God), which plays on feelings of resentment among ethnic Baluchis in the province.
Jundallah says it has been fighting for nearly a decade to secure rights for Sunni Baluchis who form a significant proportion of the population in the province.
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