Bid Kaneh explosion is located in Iran
Bidganeh (explosion location)
Bidganeh (explosion location)
Explosion location on the map of Iran
Bid Kaneh explosion
Coordinates35°37′28″N 50°52′21″E / 35.62444°N 50.87250°E / 35.62444; 50.87250
Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as: KML GPX (all coordinates) GPX (primary coordinates) GPX (secondary coordinates)

Bidkaneh arsenal explosion was a large explosion that occurred about 13:30 local time, 12 November 2011 in Iran's Moddares garrison missile base. The facility is also referred to as Shahid Modarres missile base,[1] and the Alghadir missile base.[2] Seventeen members of the Revolutionary Guards were killed in this incident,[3] including Major General Hassan Moqaddam, described as "a key figure in Iran's missile programme".[4]

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard garrison is located in a village near Shahriar city (Tehran Province) about 30 miles to the West of Iran's capital of Tehran. Residents of Karaj heard the sound of the explosion and breaking glass in buildings that were near the scene.[5] Initial reports indicated that the explosion happened at a CNG station,[6] but this was later denied.[7] Revolutionary Guard officials stated the accident occurred while military personnel were transporting munitions.[4] Officials have denied the possibility of any foreign sabotage in the explosion despite the "fivefold increase in explosions" since 2010 at Iranian refineries and gas pipelines reported by industry experts.[1]

According to CNN, senior defense officials indicated that the United States believed the explosion was an industrial accident which took place while mixing volatile fuel for a large ballistic missile.[8] Commercial satellite imagery captured on November 22 showed extensive damage at the military base and some buildings appeared to have been completely destroyed.[9]

Possible Israeli sabotage

According to an unnamed Western official quoted by Time magazine, the blast was no accident and there are "more bullets in the magazine", implying the explosion was deliberate.[10] Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak was asked about the explosion and replied, "May there be more like it."[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Mysterious explosions pose dilemma for Iranian leaders Archived 2017-03-11 at the Wayback Machine. The Washington Post. 23 November 2011
  2. ^ "Iranian missile architect dies in blast. But was explosion a Mossad mission?". Guardian News & Media Limited. 14 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  3. ^ Iran exile group claims blast near Tehran hit closely guarded missile base. The Washington Post. 13 November 2011.
  4. ^ a b Iranian missile expert killed in explosion Archived 2014-12-10 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian, 13 November 2011
  5. ^ "سپاه پاسداران:انفجار مربوط به یک زاغه مهمات بود". BBC News. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  6. ^ "صدای مهیب در تهران و کرج". خبرگزاری مهر. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  7. ^ "انفجار جایگاه CNG در تهران و البرز صحت ندارد". خبرگزاری مهر. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  8. ^ Starr, Barbara (17 November 2011). "About that Iran explosion..." CNN. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  9. ^ Brannan, Paul (17 November 2011). "Satellite Image Showing Damage from November 12, 2011 Blast at Military Base in Iran". Institute for Science and International Security. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  10. ^ Was Israel Behind a Deadly Explosion at an Iranian Missile Base?
  11. ^ "Barak hopes there will be more explosions in Iran". Archived from the original on 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2011-12-07.
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