The official Iranian news agency: At least 15 people were killed in an attack on a Shiite shrine in Iran

DUBAI (Reuters) – Gunmen attacked a Shiite shrine in the Iranian city of Shiraz on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people in clashes between security forces and protesters marking the 40th day since the killing, the official IRNA news agency said. Mahsa Amini is under arrest.

The Islamic Republic News Agency described the attackers as “takfiri terrorists,” a designation used by officials in Shiite-majority Iran to refer to hardline Sunni Islamist groups.

The agency quoted witnesses as saying that the attackers were in a car and shot pilgrims and employees at the entrance to the Shah Garg mausoleum. The police arrested two of the three “terrorists” and are looking for the third.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency said several women and children were among the dead.

The attack occurred on the same day that Iranian security forces opened fire on mourners who had gathered in the Kurdish town of Saqqaz inhabited by Amini, according to a witness.

“The riot police opened fire on mourners who had gathered at the cemetery for the memorial ceremonies of Al-Mahsa,” the witness said. “Dozens were arrested.” It was not possible to obtain a comment from the Iranian authorities.

The semi-official Iranian Students News Agency said that about ten thousand people gathered in the cemetery, adding that the internet was cut off after clashes between security forces and people there.

Videos on social media showed thousands of Iranians marching towards the cemetery where Amini was buried, despite the heavy presence of riot police. Activists had called for nationwide protests to mark the 40th day since her death after she was detained for “improper clothing”.

The demonstrations sparked by the death of the 22-year-old in Iranian moral police custody on September 16 have become one of the boldest challenges facing the religious leadership since the 1979 revolution.

A large number of Iranians took to the streets, some of them called for the fall of the Islamic Republic and chanted “Death to (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei.”

“Men and women gathered around Amini’s grave in Aichi cemetery in Saqqaz, chanting ‘Woman, life, freedom,’” an eyewitness said. Another witness in Saqez said the cemetery was filled with members of the volunteer Basij militia and riot police.

“But people from all over the Kurdistan region are here. We are all aware of Mahsa’s death together,” he added.

Fearing that the 40th anniversary of Amini’s death would lead to more violent protests, the police warned her family against holding a memorial procession or else “their son will be arrested,” rights groups said.

But Kurdistan Regional Governor Zari Kosha denied any government restrictions on holding a memorial ceremony, adding that “her family’s decision was not to hold any gathering,” according to official media.

Writing by Parisa Hafezi and Dominic Evans Editing by Michael Georgi, Philippa Fletcher and Nick McPhee

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