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Iran: Shooting attack on shrine kills at least one, wounds several other

No group has taken responsibility for the attack on a shrine in the southern city of Shiraz
Iranian security forces deploy following an armed attack at the Shah Cheragh mausoleum in the city of Shiraz on 26 October 2022 (AFP/File photo)

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An attack on a shrine in Iran's southern city of Shiraz killed at least one person on Sunday, a local official told state TV, adding that one person had been arrested.

Iranian state media earlier reported that at least four people had been killed in the attack.

"It happened around 19:00 local time (15:30 GMT) ... an armed terrorist entered the Shrine area and started shooting ... he was arrested," said Mohammad Hadi Imaniyeh, the governor of Fars province.

"One person was killed in the attack."

At least seven people were wounded, including two workers at the shrine and two pilgrims, and shops in the area had been closed. State TV said the shrine area had been cordoned off by security forces.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has ordered an investigation and vowed in a statement to bring those responsible to justice, according to IRNA.

The Shah Cheragh mausoleum is considered one the holiest site in Iran.

On 26 October, a mass shooting at the revered shrine left 13 people dead and 30 wounded, in an attack later claimed by Islamic State (IS) group.

IS has claimed previous attacks in Iran, including the deadly twin bombings in 2017 that targeted Iran's parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Videos on Iranian state media showed panicked worshippers running to find their relatives and bloodied clothes left in the aftermath of the attack.

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