Four inmates killed in blaze and riots at Tehran prison, officials say
At least four people have died, and scores were injured after a Tehran prison notorious for keeping political prisoners and anti-government activists was engulfed in a massive fire.
Flames and smoke rising from Tehran's Evin Prison were widely visible Saturday evening as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody entered the fifth week.
In online videos, gunshots and explosions could be heard in the area of the prison.
State-run media reported there were clashes overnight between prisoners and personnel in one of its wards.
The capital's regional official said prisoners set fire to a warehouse which caused the blaze.
“This fire was caused by a fight between some prisoners in a sewing workshop," said Tehran Governor Mohsen Mansouri. "The workshop was set up to create jobs” for prisoners, he said.
He said the “rioters” were separated from other prisoners to de-escalate the conflict. No detainees escaped, state media said.
A prosecutor said that “peace” had returned to the prison and that the unrest was not related to the protests which have swept the country for five weeks. The fire is said to have been extinguished.
Videos on social media showed shots ringing out as plumes of smoke rose into the sky amid the sound of an alarm. A protest broke out on the street soon after, with many chanting “Death to the Dictator!" — a reference to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Hundreds are being held at Evin, where human rights groups have reported repeated abuses of prisoners.
State media originally reported nine people were injured, but the judiciary website Mizan.news on Sunday said four inmates died of smoke inhalation and 61 others were injured. It said all four who died were in prison on
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