Local Herat officials on Tuesday said that 12 people, suspected to have been involved in Saturday's mob attack on the local Iranian Consulate, have been arrested. One person was killed and four others, including a police officer, were injured in the unrest outside of the consulate that sparked over frustration with supposedly corrupt visa processing practices.
Abdul Hamid Hamidi, Herat Provincial Police chief, said that the arrested men are suspected of instigating the protestors from escalating their peaceful demonstration to violence. Mr. Hamidi assured that the police have been investigating the incident and would not rest until all those who were involved in criminal activity are held accountable.
The Iranian Consulate halted its operations after the incident. Nasir Ahmad Noor, the Afghan Ambassador to Iran, was summoned by the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to provide a detailed explanation of the incident.
The protestors on Saturday accused the Iranian Consulate officials of corruption in the visa process. The protestors claimed that they were being made to pay £300 for the issuing of a visa to enter Iran.
Chanting "death to Iran," within moments the peaceful protest turned violent. The security forces shot dead one protester and injured three others. One police officer was also injured in the clash.
According to reports, the Consulate building was badly damaged in the clash though no employees were injured.
Officials at the Iranian Consulate or in Tehran have not yet publically commented on the incident.