Five dead after attack on police station in Iran Putin’s biggest problem: his own secret service

At least five people have been killed in an attack on a police station in southern Iran. The dead include a police officer and four attackers, state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday. According to these, several men attacked a post in the town of Sahedan in Sistan and Balochistan province. A state television reporter spoke of a fierce firefight. Multiple shots can be heard on a street in social media videos intended to portray the incident. The background to the rare attack was initially unclear.

State media described the attack as a terrorist attack. The Tasnim news agency initially reported at least two explosions. The attackers were equipped with explosive belts, it said. A senior provincial officer later said in an interview with state television that fireworks were involved.

For months, residents of the provincial capital Sahedan have been demonstrating every Friday against the leadership of the Islamic state. The province also borders Pakistan and is a hotbed of clashes between security forces and smuggling gangs. However, terrorist attacks in Iran are extremely rare. (sda/dpa)