Iranian Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs, Hossein Zolfaghari, warned Arbaeen pilgrims who had purchased toys from Iraq to hand them over to their local police stations for further investigation.
The official’s warning came as the Iraqi government forces discovered 18 toys laden with explosives on the road, just ahead of the Shia Muslim rituals of Arbaeen.
“Investigations carried out in Mehran City at Iran-Iraq border led to the discovery of two booby-trapped dolls with explosives inside. I discovered five of such cases myself. In other instances, the people who have become suspicious of their purchased toys delivered them to their local precinct,” said Zolfaghari.
The Iranian security official warned pilgrims against purchasing any toys from Iraq, asking those pilgrims on their ways back home to leave their purchased goods with police forces to carry out necessary investigations into making sure of their safety.
Meanwhile, Abu Ala al-Walayee, the secretary-general of Seyed al-Shohada brigades, said on Thursday that the resistance and popular forces in Iraq had apprehended an ISIL terror cell that had planned to target Arbaeen pilgrims with 58 bomb-laden armored vehicles.
Wednesday reports also indicated that Hezbollah Brigades killed five suicide bombers who had planned to attack Arbaeen rallies.
Nearly 20 million of Muslims from across the world, including Iran, attended on December 3 the 100-km rally to commemorate the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS).
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