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Blaze, shots heard from prison in Iran capital amid protests

Protesters gather outside the UN headquarters in Erbil on Sept. 24, 2022, to protest the death of Masha Amini, who had fallen into a coma for three days after being detained by the morality police in Tehran, Iran. Spontaneous mass gatherings to persistent scattered demonstrations have unfolded in Iran, as nationwide protests over the death of a young woman in the custody of the morality police enter their fourth week. (AP Photo/Hawre Khalid, Metrography, File)
Protesters gather outside the UN headquarters in Erbil on Sept. 24, 2022, to protest the death of Masha Amini, who had fallen into a coma for three days after being detained by the morality police in Tehran, Iran. Spontaneous mass gatherings to persistent scattered demonstrations have unfolded in Iran, as nationwide protests over the death of a young woman in the custody of the morality police enter their fourth week. (AP Photo/Hawre Khalid, Metrography, File) Protesters gather outside the UN headquarters in Erbil on Sept. 24, 2022, to protest the death of Masha Amini, who had fallen into a coma for three days after being detained by the morality police in Tehran, Iran. Spontaneous mass gatherings to persistent scattered demonstrations have unfolded in Iran, as nationwide protests over the death of a young woman in the custody of the morality police enter their fourth week. (AP Photo/Hawre Khalid, Metrography, File)

By SAMYA KULLAB / Associated Press 4 min read

BAGHDAD (AP) — A huge fire blazed Saturday at a notorious prison where political prisoners and anti-government activists are kept in the Iranian capital. Online videos and local media reported gunshots, as nationwide protests entered a fifth week.

Iran’s state-run IRNA reported that there were clashes between prisoners in one ward and prison personnel, citing a senior security official. The official said prisoners set fire to a warehouse full of prison uniforms, which caused the blaze. He said the “rioters” were separated from the other prisoners to de-escalate the conflict.

The official said that the “situation is completely under control” and that firefighters were extinguishing the flames. Later, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said that “peace” had returned to the prison and that the unrest was not related to the protests which have swept the country for four weeks.

Footage of the blaze circulated online. Videos showed shots ringing out as plumes of smoke engulfed the sky in Tehran amid the sound of an alarm.

Witnesses said that police blocked roads and highways to Evin prison and that at least three strong explosions were heard coming from the area. Traffic was heavy along major motorways near the prison, which is in the north of the capital, and many people honked to show their solidarity with protests.