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Several people were killed when unknown gunmen opened fire during a military parade in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz on Saturday.

Axar.az reports that Iran was holding a number of parades in cities including the capital Tehran and the port of Bandar Abbas on the Gulf to mark the start of the country’s 1980-88 war with Iraq.

“Shooting began by several gunmen from behind the stand during the parade. There are several killed and injured,” a correspondent told state television.

State television blamed “takfiri elements”, a reference to Islamist militants, for the attack in Ahvaz, the center of Khuzestan province, which has been the site of sporadic protests by Iran’s Arab minority.

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President Hasan Ruhani, who is currently in the military parade, has been removed from the area after the terrorist attack.

Ahvaz Central Hospital has increased to 60.

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Ahvaz was taken over by the Arab Patriotic Democrat Movement.Iran accuses this organization of its ties with Saudi Arabia.

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According to Iranian media, Ahvaz's border with Iraq was closed due to the incident.

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According to IRNA, the number of deaths has increased to 24, and the number of injured to 53.