Celebratory gunfire turns Iran wedding into tragedy

TEHRAN, Aug 19 (Reuters) An Iranian wedding guest accidentally killed an elderly man and wounded a young girl when, following a local custom, he fired his gun in the air in celebration, IRNA news agency said.

''Carelessness turns wedding into mourning,'' IRNA said about the incident, which happened on Friday in the province of Lorestan. Celebratory gunfire is common at weddings and other occasions in rural Iran.

The man fired into the air to show joy during the ceremony in the village of Miankuh, but accidentally hit a 70-year-old man and a 9-year-old girl, IRNA said. It did not identify the gunman or the victims.

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