Unknown Gunman Kills Two Justices In Court Building

Two judges were killed on Saturday in a shooting incident at Iran’s Supreme Court building in Tehran, the Iranian State media, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) has reported.

According to the judiciary’s Mizan Online website; “This morning, a gunman infiltrated the Supreme Court in a planned act of assassination of two brave and experienced judges. The two judges were martyred in the act”.

Reports by IRNA said the assailant killed himself after the “terrorist” act, adding that one other person sustained injuries in the attack.

Meanwhile, Mizan has identified the two slain judges as Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghisseh, both of whom handled cases “fighting crimes against national security, espionage, and terrorism”.

The judiciary spokesperson, Asghar Jahangir said on state television that “a person armed with a handgun entered the room” of the two judges and shot them.

Jahangir added; “Individuals have been identified, summoned, or arrested in connection with the incident”. However, he did not provide further details on the unfortunate incident.

The motive behind the killings was not immediately clear, but Mizan said the assailant was not involved in any cases before the Supreme Court while authorities said an investigation into the attack was underway.

President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his condolences over the deaths, calling on the authorities to act swiftly.

He said; “I strongly urge the security and law enforcement forces to take the necessary measures as soon as possible by examining the dimensions and angles of this reprehensible act and identifying its perpetrators.”

Moghisseh, 68, was sanctioned by the US in 2019 for having “overseen countless unfair trials, during which charges went unsubstantiated and evidence was disregarded”, according to the US Treasury.

Razini, 71, held several important positions in Iran’s judiciary and was previously targeted in a 1998 assassination attempt by assailants “who planted a magnetic bomb in his vehicle”, according to Mizan.

Though attacks targeting judges are rare, Iran has seen several shootings targeting high-profile figures in recent years.

In October, a Shiite Muslim preacher was shot dead in the southern city of Kazerun after leading Friday prayers.

In April 2023, a powerful cleric identified as Abbas Ali Soleimani was shot dead at a bank in the northern province of Mazandaran. – With The Guardian report