In a major development, massive explosions killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens near a cemetery in Iran where a ceremony was being held to mark the 2020 death of the country’s top commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone attack, Iranian state media reported on Wednesday.

Iranian state television reported a first and then a second explosion during the ceremony in the southeastern city of Kerman, saying at least 20 people had been killed.

Gas canisters blast or a terrorist attack? 

The semi-official Nournews said, “Several gas canisters exploded on the road leading to the cemetery”. A local official was quoted by Iranian state media as saying “It is not yet clear whether the explosions were caused by gas cylinders or a terrorist attack”.

State TV showed Red Crescent rescuers attending to wounded people at the ceremony, where hundreds of Iranians had gathered to mark the anniversary of Soleimani’s death. Some Iranian news agencies said at least 50 people were wounded.

“Our rapid response teams are evacuating the injured… But there are waves of crowds blocking roads,” Reza Fallah, head of the Kerman province Red Crescent told state TV.

(With inputs from agency)

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