Grenade attack targets Iranian president
A handmade grenade exploded near President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s convoy in western Iran today, but the leader was not harmed, according to reports.
A conservative website, khabaronline.ir, said the blast took place in Hamedan as Mr Ahmadinejad was on his way to address a crowd. The president gave his speech as planned and it was broadcast live on state TV.
One person was arrested in connection with the attack, the report said, adding that the president’s car was about 100 yards away from the site of the blast.
The website said the explosion “caused a lot of smoke” but had no information about whether other people were injured.
Officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the report.
Iranian state TV later said officials had denied reports that President Ahmadinejad had faced an assassination attempt.
Press TV, the Tehran government’s main English-language broadcast arm, says Mr Ahmadinejad’s office denied the claim, insisting “no such attack has happened”.
