Death toll of security troops rises to 5 in "terrorist" attack in SE Iran

attack

TEHRAN, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least five security troops were killed in Friday's "terrorist" attack in southeastern Iran, the official IRNA news agency reported Sunday, citing a statement by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

In addition, 32 members of IRGC and Basij voluntary were injured in the incident in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, according to the IRGC statement.

So far, eight suspects in the attack have been arrested, according to Mehdi Shamsabadi, prosecutor general of Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Semi-official Fars news agency reported on Saturday that Abdul-Majid Rigi and Yaser Shah Bakhsh, two members of the "Jaish al-Zulm" separatist group linked with al-Qaeda, were killed in clashes with Iranian military forces during the incident in the provincial capital of Zahedan.

On Friday, rioters raided the police station in the guise of prayers, "throwing stones and flammable materials, and shooting" in an attempt to seize a police station, Provincial Governor Hossein Modarres Khiabani said, adding the perpetrators also set fire to other public property and vandalized banks and government centers.

According to the local reports, at least 19 people were killed and scores injured in the attack.