Death toll in 'terrorist' attack in southeast Iran rises to 9, including 3 gunmen

The death toll from a "terrorist attack" on a judicial building in southeast Iran on Saturday has climbed to nine, including law enforcement and three gunmen involved in the attack, the judiciary said.

Following earlier reports of a death toll of five, with 13 injured, the judiciary's Mizan online said that "the number of martyrs increased to six."

Later, provincial chief justice Ali Movahedi-Rad, cited by Mizan, announced the injured count had reached 22, "most of whom were civilians". He further added that all three of the gunmen, who had tried to enter the building disguised as visitors and were wearing explosive vests, were killed.

"Three of the terrorists have been killed according to the announcement of the Quds Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," Movahedi-Rad said.

The death toll also included three law enforcement members who were protecting the courthouse.

According to Alireza Daliri, deputy police commander of Sistan-Baluchistan province, the assailants threw a grenade into the building, killing several people inside.

Located about 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) southeast of the capital Tehran, the restive province shares a long border with Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In one of the deadliest incidents in the region, 10 police officers were killed in October in what authorities also described as a "terrorist" attack.