Several Killed in Stampede at Funeral for Iran’s Gen. Soleimani


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An unspecified number of people were killed or injured on Tuesday at a funeral procession of Iran’s revered commander, Lt. General Qassem Soleimani in the southern city of Kerman, a local health official said.

Speaking to Tasnim, the head of Kerman’s emergency medical services said following a stampede in the city during the funeral, several people lost their lives and some others were injured.  

The issue is under investigation, he said, adding that as soon as the health conditions of the injured are determined, further information on the incident will be released to the public.

A procession in Tehran on Monday drew more than one million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets.    

Lt. General Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was the deputy head of Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha'abi (PMU), and a number of their entourage were killed in a strike by American drones near Baghdad International Airport in the early hours of Friday.

The White House and the Pentagon claimed responsibility for the assassination of General Soleimani in Iraq, saying the attack was carried out at the direction of US President Donald Trump.

In a message on Friday morning, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei warned that harsh revenge awaits the criminals behind the martyrdom of General Soleimani.

Ayatollah Khamenei also reminded all friends and enemies of the Iranian general that the resistance path will continue vigorously, stressing that continued battle and ultimate victory will disappoint the murderers and criminals.