Six Killed in Iran Bomb Attacks

BBC News:

At least six people have been killed and 24 injured in a series of blasts in the south-western Iranian city of Ahwaz, police say. The two bombs exploded outside a privately-run bank and a government office in the city in Khuzestan Province, which borders Iraq.

The oil-rich province, which borders Iraq, was hit by several bomb blasts last year.

It was also the scene of anti-government rallies in November. READ MORE

A spokesman for the Police Task Force said one bomb had exploded on Kianpars Street, opposite the Saman Bank, and had killed at least six people and wounded 15 others.

Col Salehi said a second explosion on Golestan Road opposite the Natural Resources Department, a state environmental agency, wounded a further nine people.

Initial investigations found the devices had been percussion bombs, which generally produce a loud bang but little damage, Col Salehi added.

Khuzestan, which is home to about two million ethnic Arabs, was rocked by a wave of unrest last year, including bomb blasts in June and October.

The government blamed the attacks on the UK, whose forces are just across the border in southern Iraq, but British officials denied involvement.

In November, protests erupted in Ahwaz, after ethnic Arabs accused authorities of discrimination.