Gunmen kill at least 15 in attack on Shi'ite shrine in Iran - state news agency - Reuters

DUBAI, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Armed men attacked a Shi'ite Muslim shrine successful the Iranian metropolis of Shiraz connected Wednesday, sidesplitting astatine slightest 15 people, authorities quality bureau IRNA said, arsenic information forces clashed with protesters marking 40 days since the decease of Mahsa Amini successful custody.

IRNA described the attackers arsenic "takfiri terrorists", a statement utilized by officials successful predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran to notation to hardline, equipped Sunni Islamist groups.

The attackers were successful a car and changeable astatine pilgrims and unit astatine the entranceway to the shrine of Shah Cheragh, the bureau quoted witnesses arsenic saying. Police arrested 2 of the 3 "terrorists" and were looking for the third.

The semi-official Tasnim quality bureau said respective women and children were among the dead.

The onslaught took spot connected the aforesaid time that Iranian information forces opened occurrence astatine mourners who gathered successful Amini's Kurdish location municipality of Saqez, according to a witness.

"Riot constabulary changeable mourners who gathered astatine the cemetery for Mahsa's memorial ceremonial ... dozens person been arrested," the witnesser said. Iranian authorities were not disposable to comment.

Iran's semi-official ISNA quality bureau said astir 10,000 radical had gathered astatine the cemetery, adding that the net was chopped disconnected aft clashes betwixt information forces and radical there.

Videos connected societal media showed thousands of Iranians marching towards the cemetery wherever Amini is buried contempt the dense beingness of riot police. Activists had called for protests crossed the state to people 40 days since she died aft being detained for "inappropriate attire".

Demonstrations ignited by the 22-year-old's decease successful the custody of Iran's morality constabulary connected Sept. 16 person go 1 of the boldest challenges to the clerical enactment since the 1979 revolution.

A wide scope of Iranians person travel retired connected to the streets, with immoderate calling for the downfall of the Islamic Republic and chanting "Death to (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei".

A witnesser said "men and women person gathered astir Amini's sedate astatine the Aichi cemetery successful Saqez, chanting 'Woman, Life, Freedom'". Another witnesser successful Saqez said the cemetery was filled with members of the unpaid Basij militia and riot police.

"But radical from each astir the Kurdistan state are here. We are each mourning Mahsa's decease together."

Fearing the 40-day day of Amini's decease would substance further convulsive protests, information constabulary had warned her household not to clasp a memorial procession oregon "their lad volition beryllium arrested", rights groups said.

However, the politician of Kurdistan Zarei Kusha denied immoderate authorities regulation for holding a memorial service, adding that "it was the determination of her household not to clasp a gathering", according to authorities media.

Writing by Parisa Hafezi and Dominic Evans Editing by Michael Georgy, Philippa Fletcher and Nick Macfie

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