4 Prisoners Dead, Several Injured Following Major Fire in Prison, World
A major fire broke at notorious prison, according to an Iranian state news agency killing 4 prisoners as several others were injured.
Sources from within the prison revealed to BBC that the casualties from the fire incident may even be higher.
Videos circulating online showed flames and smoke at the site and gunshots and explosions could be heard.
Four of the casualties who were injured are in critical condition according to reports from news agency.
It is not yet clear whether the fire incident at the prison is connected in any way to the recent demonstrations. Some think the 2 are linked but no clear confirmation so far.
State media has suggested the events in the prison are not connected to the ongoing protests, quoting an official who blamed “criminal elements” for the fire.
Speaking from inside the prison, told state TV that there was a riot in a wing of the prison housing petty criminals.
Some journalists on social media accused the authorities of “setting the prison ablaze intentionally” as a high-profile political prisoner was sent home before it broke out.
In several videos people could be heard outside the prison chanting “death to the dictator”.
Gunshots and explosions were heard in other videos – prompting rights groups to raise grave fears for the fate of the inmates. One of the news agencies earlier said the explosionsoff were due to mines going after a prison break, prisoners escaping stepped on mines.
The agency, however, later said this was not the case, adding no prisoner had stepped on a mine.
One video posted online appeared to show objects fired into the prison from outside its perimeter, followed by the sound of an explosion.
