Tehran Governor: Assassination Incident Under Investigation

Tehran, Nov 11, IRNA – Confirming the Sunday evening assassination of deputy industries, mines, and trade minister, Tehran Governor Issa Farhadi said that the incidence is under investigation by security and police officials. “Presently the special murder inspector, police security officers are busy investigating the different aspects of the crime. He meanwhile reiterated that tomorrow (on Monday) there would be an emergency session at Tehran Governorate in which the event will be surveyed and the public will be informed about its results. Deputy Governor General of Tehran Province Seyyed Shahabeddin Chavoshi, too, told IRNA that it is still too soon to talk about the details of the event, but as soon as they will be clarified the public will be informed properly. He, too, said that police and security officials are currently investigating the matter. Also a judiciary official said on Sunday night there is no precise information about the assassination in which the deputy industries, mines and trade minister lost his life. The judiciary official who talked with IRNA on condition of anonymity reiterated, “We too, have heard the news’ details a short while and so long as we have not got full information we cannot comment on it.” He reiterated, “The criminal police and murder inspector have attended the crime scene and the media and other concerned bodies had better refrain from publishing the details before their reports are presented.” The assassination by an unidentified terrorist occurred in Tehran’s Sabalan Square while the late deputy minister was riding his Peugeot passenger car from the square towards East Janbazan (Golbarg) Street. According to the eye witnesses, the unidentified terrorist shot two bullets, one into Rahmatabadi’s chest and the other one into his head. Disciplinary forces, along with criminal police officers, rushed to the scene of the assassination urgently and an ambulance carried his dead corpse away after their inspections ended. One of the police officers at the crime scene told IRNA that according to the evidence at the scene, the terrorist had shot the bullets from inside his own car. “Since two bullet shells were found inside the car, the terrorist had most probably been talking with Mr. Rahmatabadi.” The police officer also said that there were no signs of any physical engagement, or beating at the place of the assassination. According to the crime police and the comments by the eye witnesses, the assassination took place at about 7:50 pm Tehran time, about two and a half hours after the sunset./end