DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Judicial Authority of Iran increased death toll on Monday in a notorious Tehran fire Evin Prisonsaid at least eight inmates were killed as protests continued across the country.
The justice agency’s Mizan news agency released new numbers, saying that inmates had been unable to bear their injuries from Saturday night’s incident.
It says all the dead have been detained for theft.
Flames and thick smoke rose from Tehran’s Evin Prison was widely seen on Saturday night, as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody entered their fifth week. In the online videos, gunfire and explosions can be heard in the prison area.
State media said the fire was extinguished after several hours and no one escaped.
Authorities tried to distance events at the prison from ongoing protests, while state media provided conflicting accounts of the violence. Hundreds of people are being held at Evin, where human rights groups have repeatedly reported abuse of prisoners.
The justice agency’s Mizan news agency released new numbers, saying that inmates had been unable to bear their injuries from Saturday night’s incident.
It says all the dead have been detained for theft.
Flames and thick smoke rose from Tehran’s Evin Prison was widely seen on Saturday night, as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody entered their fifth week. In the online videos, gunfire and explosions can be heard in the prison area.
State media said the fire was extinguished after several hours and no one escaped.
Authorities tried to distance events at the prison from ongoing protests, while state media provided conflicting accounts of the violence. Hundreds of people are being held at Evin, where human rights groups have repeatedly reported abuse of prisoners.
