Iran Arrests Groups Planning Attacks On Pilgrims

Iran arrests groups planning attacks on pilgrims

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians travel to the Iraqi city of Kerbala each year where remains of Imam Hussein are believed to be entombed. (AFP)

    Iran’s Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi did not specify when and where the arrests had taken place
    The militant groups were allegedly planning to attack during the annual pilgrimage of Arbaeen

By gowidenews
October 23, 2018 07:10


Report reaching us says Iran said on Tuesday it arrested three militant groups planning attacks on Shiite Muslims at the annual pilgrimage of Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, Imam Hussein.
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians travel to the Iraqi city of Kerbala each year, where Shi’ites believe the remains of Imam Hussein are entombed.
Iran’s Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi, visiting in the Iran-Iraq border area, was quoted by state television as saying that “three terrorist groups that wanted to target Arbaeen mourners were arrested.”
He did not say when and where the arrests had taken place.
Shiites are considered apostates by hard-line Sunni Islamist insurgents in Iraq. Armed Sunni groups in Iran have also increased attacks on military and civilian targets in recent months.
Iran stepped up security in border areas after five gunmen killed 25 people at a military parade in the southwest in September.
Daesh militants and an Iranian ethnic Arab opposition movement claimed responsibility for the attack, but neither claim provided convincing evidence.
At least 10 Iranian security personnel including Revolutionary Guards were kidnapped on the border with Pakistan last week. A Sunni separatist group said it had seized them as revenge for the oppression of Sunni Muslims.