At least eight people were killed and more than a dozen injured on Friday in a terrorist attack on a judiciary complex in Zahedan, the capital of Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, a region frequently targeted by insurgent groups.
The Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl has claimed responsibility for the assault, which marks one of the deadliest such attacks in recent months.
According to Iranian state media and Fars News Agency, the attackers stormed the judges’ chambers, killing judiciary staff and injuring others.
Explosions and sustained gunfire were reported, and a suicide bomber may have been part of the coordinated attack.
Three gunmen were killed in a shootout with security forces who quickly launched a counter-operation and secured the area. The HAALVSH human rights group confirmed civilian casualties, including a mother and child.
In a statement on its Telegram channel, Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility and warned civilians to evacuate the area. The group has a history of conducting cross-border raids and armed attacks in Iran’s southeast, where tensions between the state and Sunni minority communities have persisted for years.
