Iranian Friday prayers leader escapes terror in SE

Rasa - The Friday prayers leader of an Iranian southeastern town has escaped an assassination attempt by armed militants in front of his house.

News ID: 632

Date: 16 February 2014 - 11:54

Rasa News Agency reports - Abdolmajid Jahangiri, the interim Friday prayers leader of the town of Bazman in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, emerged unscathed after unknown gunmen shot at him late on Saturday, IRNA reported.

Following the incident, Jahangiri, who was contacted by IRNA, confirmed that he was unharmed, adding that a number of locals “gathered near my house to express their anger,” against the attempt, while police forces launched an investigation into the terror act.

The failed assassination attempt followed abduction of five Iranian border guards in Sistan-Baluchestan’s Jakigour region on the border with Pakistan on February 6 by the Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group, which has claimed responsibility for it.

On Friday, senior Iranian Sunni cleric Mowlavi Abdul Hamid called for the immediate release of the five soldiers, saying the move is “detrimental to the [Iranian] nation and people in Sistan-Baluchestan.”

Also on Friday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for consular, parliamentary and Iranian expatriates’ affairs Hassan Qashqavi said the necessary consultations for the release of the abducted soldiers were underway.