Gunmen kill 11 people, injure several others in an attack on a police station in Iran, state TV says

A general view of Tehran, Iran. (AP)
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Updated 15 December 2023
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Gunmen kill 11 people, injure several others in an attack on a police station in Iran, state TV says

  • In recent months, militants and small separatist groups have attacked police stations as part of a low-level insurgency against the government
  • State TV blamed the attack on Jaish Al-Adl, a separatist group

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Suspected members of a separatist group killed 11 people and injured several others in a nighttime attack on a police station in southeastern Iran, state TV said Friday.
The deputy governor of Sistan and Baluchistan province, Ali Reza Marhemati, said senior police officers and soldiers were killed in the 2 a.m. attack in Rask town, about 1,400 kilometers (875 miles) southwest of Tehran.
He said police killed several of the attackers in a shootout.
State TV blamed the attack on Jaish Al-Adl, a separatist group. In 2019, Jaish Al-Adl claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on a bus that killed 27 members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard force.
In recent months, militants and small separatist groups in the predominantly Sunni region have attacked police stations as part of a low-level insurgency against the government.


Egypt coordinates with Greece to return victims of migrant incident, warns against irregular routes

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Egypt coordinates with Greece to return victims of migrant incident, warns against irregular routes

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has instructed the Egyptian embassy in Athens to step up coordination with Greek authorities, Ahram Online reported on Tuesday. 

The move aims to support survivors and expedite the repatriation of the victims’ bodies once legal procedures are completed.

The ministry added that the embassy has been in contact with the families of those who died to arrange the transfer of the remains back home.

Offering its condolences to the victims’ families, the ministry renewed its warning to citizens about the risks of irregular migration, urging Egyptians to safeguard their lives by using legal and regulated travel channels.

Egypt has intensified its efforts to curb irregular migration since launching a national strategy in 2016, with officials stressing that the country will not be used as a transit route to Europe.

Authorities say no migrant boats have departed from Egyptian shores since the strategy was introduced, despite Egypt hosting nearly 10 million foreign nationals, including refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from 133 countries.

The approach has continued to evolve over the years, most recently with the adoption of the 2024–2026 national action plan by the National Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons.

Earlier initiatives have also supported these efforts, including the 2019 “Lifeboats” programme, which allocated EGP 250 million to create job opportunities in villages considered most vulnerable to irregular migration.

Egypt’s measures have drawn international support, with the European Union pledging €200 million in grants in March 2024 to bolster border management, search-and-rescue capabilities, and efforts to combat migrant smuggling.