A massive fire broke out at Iran’s notorious Evin prison, which houses political prisoners and anti-government activists.
The shots are believed to have been fired as the fire broke out at the prison in the capital Tehran on Saturday.
An alarm was sounded when the Iran-based Center for Human Rights, based in Iran, announced that an “armed conflict” was taking place behind the prison’s walls.
The shootings are believed to have been first heard in Ward 7 of the prison, according to unverified reports.
Thick smoke rises from the prison, which is now freed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained.
At least eight people are believed to have been injured in the fire, but no deaths have been reported, according to the state agency IRNA.
IRNA reported clashes between prisoners and staff in one area.
A senior security official claimed inmates set fire to a warehouse filled with prison uniforms.
The situation is now said to be “completely under control” with work underway to extinguish the blaze.
Eyewitnesses said roads leading to the prison were blocked off with at least three explosions heard in the area.
Heavy traffic near the prison with drivers honking their horns constantly.
The internet is also said to have been blocked after the fire started.
The fire came as violent anti-government protests increased across the country for a fifth week, sparked by the death of Mr. Mahsa Aminiwith children among the dozens of dead.
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Mahsa Amini’s death resonated with people across Iran and sparked anger that had simmered for years.
Outraged by Iran’s dress code crackdown
International anger flared up when Miss Amini, 22 years old, died in police custody on September 17 after being arrested by the ethics police in Tehran for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.
Iranian officials insist she was not mistreated while in custody and have previously said she suffered a heart attack.
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: “The world cannot turn a blind eye to Iran”
Britain punishes Iran’s ethics police after Mahsa Amini’s death
But her family believes her body showed signs of being beaten after she was held.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Photo: BBC
People even Miss Zaghari-Ratcliffe cut their hair in an act of defiance of the authorities – despite the risk of imprisonment.
This week, a senior Iranian official became first publicly criticized the regime’s hijab crackdown.
Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has called for a rethink of how to deal with girls and women who do not comply with the Muslim dress code.
