2009 Pishin bombing

Last updated
Pishin bombing
IranSistanBaluchistan.png
Location of Sistan and Baluchestan Province within Iran
Location Pishin in Sistan and Baluchestan Province
Coordinates 26°5′13″N61°45′37″E / 26.08694°N 61.76028°E / 26.08694; 61.76028
DateOctober 18, 2009 (UTC+04.30)
Attack type
Suicide bombing
Weapons Suicide Bomb
Deaths43 people including several notable IRGC commanders
Injured150
Perpetrator Jundallah

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]

Contents

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

Flag of Iran.svg  Iran – The Government and Media of Iran blamed the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel for the attack.[ citation needed ]

Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan – Interior Minister Rehman Malik said, "we can even point out his [Abdul Malik Rigi's] exact location in Afghanistan". [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps</span> Military organization to protect the political system of the Islamic Republic in Iran

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also called Sepah or Pasdaran, is a multi-service primary branch of the Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khomeini as a military branch in May 1979, in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution. Whereas the Iranian Army protects the country's sovereignty in a traditional capacity, the IRGC's constitutional mandate is to ensure the integrity of the Islamic Republic. Most interpretations of this mandate assert that it entrusts the IRGC with preventing foreign interference in Iran, thwarting coups by the traditional military, and crushing "deviant movements" that harm the ideological legacy of the Islamic Revolution. Currently, the IRGC is designated as a terrorist organization by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jundallah (Iran)</span> Sunni Baloch militant organization operating in Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran

Jundallah, also known as the People's Resistance Movement of Iran (PRMI), was a Sunni Salafi militant organization based in Sistan and Baluchestan, a province in southeast Iran. The group shared its name with another Baloch group active in Pakistani Balochistan as part of the same insurgency, that claims to be fighting for the "equal rights of Sunni Muslims in Iran".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insurgency in Balochistan</span> Insurgency in Pakistan and Iran

The Insurgency in Balochistan is an insurgency or revolt by Baloch separatist insurgents and various Islamist militant groups against the governments of Pakistan and Iran in the Balochistan region, which covers the Pakistani province of Balochistan, Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, and Balochistan of southern Afghanistan. Rich in natural resources, this is the largest, least populated and least developed province in Pakistan and Iran, and armed groups demand greater control of the province's natural resources and political autonomy. Baloch separatists have attacked civilians from other ethnicities throughout the province. In the 2010s, attacks against the Shia community by sectarian groups—though not always directly related to the political struggle—have risen, contributing to tensions in Balochistan. In Pakistan, the ethnic separatist insurgency is low-scale but ongoing mainly in southern Balochistan, as well as sectarian and religiously motivated militancy concentrated mainly in northern and central Balochistan.

Numerous civilians, including men, women, children, government officials, activists, secular intellectuals and clerics have been victims of assassination, terrorism, or violence against non-combatants, over the course of modern Iranian history. Among the most notable acts of terrorism in Iran in the 20th century have been the 1978 Cinema Rex fire and the 1990s chain murders of Iran.

The 2007 Zahedan bombings occurred from 14–17 February in Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchestan Province, Iran. The first bombing occurred at 6:30 a.m. on February 14 when a car filled with explosives stopped in front of a bus carrying Revolutionary Guards in Ahmadabad district. The car exploded, killing 18 and injuring 31 members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Jundallah claimed responsibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdolmalek Rigi</span> Iranian terrorist

Abdolmalek Rigi was an Iranian Baloch militant who was the leader of Jundallah, a Sunni Islamist militant group based in the Sistan and Balochistan Province in southeastern Iran. In 2010, he was captured and executed by the Iranian government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Zahedan bombing</span>

The 2009 Zahedan bombing was an explosion on May 28, 2009 that occurred during Maghrib prayers in Zahedan killing 30 people and wounding 60. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The governor of Sistan and Baluchestan reported that "a group of terrorists were arrested as they were trying to escape from the province".

Abdolhamid Rigi was the elder brother of the detained leader of Jundallah, Abdolmalek Rigi. Like his brother, he was a member of the militant Sunni Islamist organization, which is widely recognized as a terrorist group, including by Iran and four other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jundallah (Pakistan)</span> Baloch militant organization operating in Balochistan, Pakistan

Jundallah was a militant group associated with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The group was commanded by militant Hakimullah Mehsud, the Emir of TTP, until his death on 1 November 2013. Ahmed Marwat was the spokesman of the group. On 17 November 2014, a group spokesman told Reuters that it had vowed allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, after a meeting with a three-man delegation from the group. In January 2017, the Government of Pakistan imposed, interalia, a ban on Jundullah and other splinter groups that claimed responsibility for terror attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Zahedan bombings</span> Suicide bombing

The 2010 Zahedan bombings were two suicide bombings on 15 July 2010 that targeted Shia worshippers in Iran, including members of the Revolutionary Guards. The bombings targeted those celebrating the birthday of a Muslim saint at the Jamia mosque in Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchestan. Responsibility for the attacks was claimed by Jundullah in revenge for the execution of their leader by the Iranian government. Amongst the reactions and national and supranational condemnations, Iran blamed the United States and Israel for facilitating the attack.

Events in the year 2010 in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Events in the year 2009 in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On 22 September 2013, a twin suicide bombing took place at All Saints Church in Peshawar, Pakistan, in which 127 people were killed and more than 250 injured. It was the deadliest attack on the Christian minority in the history of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaish ul-Adl</span> Militant separatist organization in Iran

Jaish ul-Adl, or Jaish al-Adl, is a Baloch Sunni Salafi Jihadist separatist organization that operates mainly in the Sistan and Baluchestan province in Iran, where there is a substantial Baloch population and a porous border with Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voice of America Persian News Network</span> United States television and radio network

Voice of America Persian News Network (VOA-PNN) is a governmental international broadcaster of the United States of America in Persian language. Its headquarters are in Washington D.C. It started to broadcast its programs on 18 October 1994 with a one-hour television program. Its radio programs started on 22 November 1979 with 30 minutes broadcasting per day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency</span> Separatist insurgency in Iran

The Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency is an ongoing low-intensity asymmetric conflict in Sistan and Baluchestan Province between Iran and several Baloch Sunni militant organizations designated as terrorist organizations by the Iranian government. It began in 2004 and is part of the wider Balochistan conflict.

The arrest of Abdolmalek Rigi, the leader of Jundallah Terrorist group, took place on 23 February 2010 through an international operation by Iranian security forces. Rigi was extracted from a passenger jet on his way from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence had tracked Rigi's movements for five months before arresting him.

The attack of Tasooki was a terrorist attack against Iran. It took place at 21:00 on 25 Esfand 1384 in Zabol-Zahedan road near the police station. The perpetrators were members of the Baloch religio-political insurgency named Jundallah (Iran). The attack left 22 dead and 7 captured. in that night the forces of jundallah and Abdolmalek rigi attacked several passing vehicles, mostly buses, in the guise of police and killed 21 Shia male passengers in front of their wives and children.

<i>When the Moon Was Full</i> 2019 Iranian film

When the Moon Was Full is a 2019 Iranian drama film written and directed by Narges Abyar. The film is based on the true story of the brother and sister-in-law of Abdolmalek Rigi, the former leader of the Jundallah terrorist group in the Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan. It won multi awards including the Crystal Simorgh for Best Film at the 37th Fajr Film Festival.

On February 13, 2019, a suicide bombing on the Khash–Zahedan road in Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran killed at least 27 Revolutionary Guards and wounded another 13. It was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Iran in years. The Salafi jihadist militant organization Jaish ul-Adl said it carried out the bombing.

References

  1. Iranian commanders assassinated. BBC News. October 18, 2009.
  2. 1 2 UN Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attacks in Iran. Xinhua. October 20, 2009.
  3. ‘Elite’ generals among nearly 50 killed in Iran suicide attack. Daily Times of Pakistan . October 19, 2009.
  4. Suicide bomber kills 35 in attack on Iran Guards Archived 2013-10-21 at the Wayback Machine Trend News Agency. October 18, 2009
  5. Iran mourns suicide bomb victims. BBC News. October 20, 2009.
  6. Larijani Blames US for Terrorist Attack on IRGC Commanders Archived 2012-01-12 at the Wayback Machine . Fars News Agency. October 18, 2009.
  7. Iran vows response to suicide blast. Al Jazeera. October 18, 2009.
  8. Derakhsi, Reza (October 19, 2009). US, UK behind attack on Guards, claims Iran. The Independent .
  9. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad orders swift action against Iran bombers. The Times of India . October 19, 2009.
  10. Dareni, Ali Akbar; Murphy, Brian (October 18, 2009). Iran bombing kills 5 Revolutionary Guard leaders. Associated Press.
  11. Iran summons Pakistani charge d'affairs over deadly bomb attack. Xinhua. October 18, 2009.
  12. Iran accuses Pakistan over attack. BBC News. October 18, 2009.
  13. Tehran to demand Pakistan hand over alleged attack mastermind Archived 2009-10-20 at the Wayback Machine . France 24. October 19, 2009.
  14. "Bombings in Iran". Dawn. October 19, 2009. Archived from the original on 22 October 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  15. Police Chief Holds Pakistan Accountable for Terror Attack in Iran Archived 2012-01-11 at the Wayback Machine . Fars News Agency. October 21, 2009.
  16. Iran arrests suspects in attack on military chiefs [ dead link ]. Associated Press. October 21, 2009.
  17. "India behind most terror attacks, says Malik". Dawn. October 22, 2009. Archived from the original on 23 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-22.