Six Iranian security members killed, hundreds detained amid protests
At least six Iranian security personnel have been killed and approximately 200 protest leaders arrested as anti-government demonstrations continue across the country, according to state media. The protests, driven by economic grievances including currency depreciation, have prompted intensified security operations and resulted in conflicting casualty reports from different sources.
Iranian authorities have reported casualties among security forces and widespread arrests as protests triggered by economic hardship continue to spread across the country. The situation reflects deepening social unrest amid a severe economic crisis that shows no immediate signs of resolution.
Security Force Casualties and Arrests
State broadcaster IRIB, citing prosecutor general Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, reported that six security members were killed during disturbances in the western Kermanshah province. Concurrently, Press TV announced that security forces arrested 200 individuals identified as protest leaders in raids on their residences, where weapons were reportedly seized. Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan stated that coordination between various security branches has been enhanced to confront what officials term "rioters."
Official Account of Fatalities
Police Chief Radan offered a specific narrative regarding protest-related deaths, asserting that forensic examinations indicated most fatalities resulted from "bladed weapons and knife wounds." He emphasized that "the shooting distance was very close," which he interpreted as evidence that the killings were carried out by "trained and directed elements" rather than security forces. Radan warned that those detained in connection with the unrest "will face punishment after completing legal procedures."
Background and Conflicting Reports
The protest wave began on December 28 at Tehran's Grand Bazaar, initially sparked by the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and deteriorating living conditions. While official casualty figures remain unannounced, starkly different accounts have emerged. Medical staff reported hundreds of deaths on Saturday, and a Tehran doctor anonymously told Time Magazine that six hospitals in the capital alone recorded "at least 217 protester deaths, most by live ammunition." These reports contrast sharply with official statements attributing deaths to protester violence.
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