State-controlled Iranian TV reported on Tuesday that 35 mourners died on Monday during a stampede at the funeral of late Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
Thousands of Iranians hurried to pay their last respects to Soleimani, who held a revered status in Iran, as they gathered to mourn his death and bid farewell to him. Soleimani was in charge of the Quds Forces arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps prior to his demise.
The three-day mourning period for the general ended in chaos as a stampede ensued in Kerman, his hometown, resulting in 35 deaths and 48 injuries as the crowds surged to catch a glimpse of Soleimani’s coffin.
Speaking to state TV over the phone, Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Iran’s emergency medical services, confirmed the stampede in the densely packed streets, stating, “Unfortunately, as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions.”
Iran’s leaders have vowed retaliation for Soleimani’s killing, while the US has put its military on high alert.
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