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Image: Members of Iranian forces take cover during an attack on the Iranian parliament in central Tehran

World

Iran Parliament, Shrine Targeted in Deadly Twin Attacks

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks, the first terrorist incidents in Tehran in more than a decade.

/ 11 PHOTOS
Image: An armed man stands in a window of the parliament building in Tehran

A member of the security forces looks out of a window at Iran's parliament in Tehran on June 7, 2017.

Gunmen and suicide bombers attacked Iran's parliament and the shrine of its revolutionary leader on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people, wounding dozens and igniting an hours-long siege at the legislature that ended with four attackers dead.

— Omid Vahabzadeh / Fars News Agency via AP
Image: Security personnel take position in front of parliament in Tehran

Security personnel take position in front of parliament in Tehran.

The Islamic State group claimed the attacks, marking the first time the Sunni extremists have taken responsibility for an assault in Shiite-majority Iran. The militants are at war with Iranian-backed forces in Syria and Iraq, and view Shiites as apostates.

— Omid Vahabzadeh / Fars News Agency via AP
Image: Women are seen inside the parliament during an attack in central Tehran

Women inside parliament during the attack.

The attacks began midmorning when assailants armed with Kalashnikov rifles stormed the parliament building. One of the attackers later blew himself up inside, where a session had been in progress, according to a statement carried by Iran's state TV.

— TIMA via Reuters
Image: Iranian lawmakers sit inside the parliament during an attack in central Tehran

Iranian lawmakers sit inside parliament during the attack.

— TIMA via Reuters
Image: Security forces take cover during an attack on parliament in central Tehran

Security forces take cover outside parliament.

— Tasnim News Agency via Reuters
Image: Boy is evacuated during an attack on the Iranian parliament in central Tehran

A boy is evacuated from parliament during the attack.

— Omid Vahabzadeh / TIMA via Reuters
Image: Members of Iranian forces take cover during an attack on the Iranian parliament in central Tehran

Security forces take cover outside parliament.

— Tasnim News Agency via Reuters
Image: Members of Iranian forces are seen during an attack on the Iranian parliament in central Tehran

Emergency personnel respond to the scene outside parliament.

— Tasnim News Agency via Reuters
Image: Police officers control the scene outside the shrine of late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini

Police officers control the scene outside the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini in southern Tehran.

About 30 minutes after the parliament siege began, a suicide bomber and other assailants targeted the shrine to the Islamic republic's founder. 

— Ebrahim Noroozi / AP
Image: Police officers control the scene outside the shrine of late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini

Police officers control the scene after gunmen and suicide bombers attacked the shrine of Iran's revolutionary leader.

— Ebrahim Noroozi / AP
Image: Members of Iranian forces stand guard during an attack on the Iranian parliament in central Tehran

Security forces stand guard in central Tehran.

— Omid Vahabzadeh / TIMA via Reuters
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