Gunman Kills 12 Relatives in Rural Iran Amid Family Disputes

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Gunman Kills 12 Relatives in Rural Iran Amid Family Disputes

In a tragic incident, a 30-year-old gunman unleashes a deadly rampage in southeast Iran, killing 12 relatives amid family disputes. The assailant, armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, targets his father, brother, and other relatives in a remote village, marking the deadliest shooting reported in Iran in decades.

Ebrahim Hamidi, head of the justice department in Kerman province, confirms the assailant’s motive and weapon choice, highlighting the severity of the attack.

While the identity of the gunman remains undisclosed, the incident underscores the prevalence of occasional shootings in Iran, despite strict regulations limiting firearm ownership to hunting rifles.

This tragedy recalls previous instances of gun violence in Iran, including a 2022 shooting at a state-owned financial conglomerate, where a dismissed employee killed three and injured five before taking his own life. In 2016, a similar incident saw a 26-year-old man shoot 10 relatives in a rural area in the south of Iran.

The surge in violence comes amidst deteriorating economic conditions exacerbated by American sanctions, leading to soaring inflation and rising unemployment. The tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the societal repercussions of economic hardships and underscores the need for effective measures to address underlying issues and prevent further violence.