Israel Matzav

Massive explosion at Revolutionary Guards base near Tehran

At least 27 people have been killed in a massive weapons explosion at a military base 25 miles outside Tehran (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

The blast occurred when weapons were being moved inside a Revolutionary Guards depot, a spokesman for the elite unit told state TV.

Windows in nearby buildings were shattered and the blast was heard in central Tehran, 40 km (25 miles) away.

Two hours after the explosion a fire still raged and there were traffic jams on nearby roads, a local reporter said.

Local MP Hossein Garousi said "a large part of an ammunition depot exploded," parliament's website reported.

Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ramezan Sharif did not say what had caused the "accident" in the village of Bidganeh, near the city of Karaj.

"Some of the casualties are reported to be in a critical condition," he said.

An emergency worker said that 12 people had been taken to hospital.

JPost adds:

Authorities are treating the explosion - which was felt for miles around - as an accident.

While there was no indication of any attack, the explosion shook homes and rattled windows for miles around at a time of mounting tensions with Israel over Iran's nuclear program.

"So far, 27 personnel of Revolutionary Guards have been martyred and 16 others wounded, some of them are in a critical condition," IRIB quoted Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ramezan Sharif as saying.

"Today at 13:30, (0900 GMT), an explosion happened in one of the Revolutionary Guards' bases while a consignment of explosive devices was being moved out from the arsenal, besides that some munitions in the arsenal exploded which created a terrifying sound," Sharif said.

Residents in western suburbs of Tehran told Reuters they had felt the blast, with some assuming it to be a low-level earthquake.

Fire at the base continued to rage for hours. Surrounding streets were closed and reporters were kept away from the scene.

Some media reported there had been two explosions and the head of Iran's Red Crescent organization said there was a risk of further blasts.

Mahmoud Mozafar told the Mehr news agency that only six paramedics had been allowed into the Amir Al-Momenin military base and that thick smoke was hampering the rescue operation.

There were no reports linking the blast to any air strike or other attack.

Sharif denied what he said was speculation in the Western media that the military base was linked to Iran's nuclear program.

"This blast is not related to any nuclear tests that some foreign media have reported," he told Mehr.

I don't know whether this base is part of the nuclear program, but I can tell you this: It was no accident. Maybe someone is taking the advice of commenters on this blog to hit the Revolutionary Guard before the nuclear program is hit.

Heh.

Labels: explosions, Iranian nuclear threat, Tehran

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:51 PM