Verified videos emerging from Iran show bodies piled up in a hospital, snipers stationed on buildings, and the destruction of CCTV cameras in the aftermath of an unprecedented crackdown on protests earlier this month. BBC Verify has been closely monitoring protest activities, despite a nearly total internet blackout that has hampered accurate documentation of the violence against protesters.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), nearly 6,000 individuals, including over 5,600 protesters, have been confirmed killed since protests erupted in late December. Another 17,000 reported deaths are under investigation, further exacerbated by the ongoing blackout, which has lasted nearly three weeks.
Warnings from organizations like the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) indicate that the final casualty figures could exceed 25,000. In contrast, Iranian officials report that more than 3,100 fatalities occurred, with claims that most of these were security personnel or innocent bystanders attacked by rioters.
The latest footage, purportedly filmed on January 8 and 9 when demonstrators reacted to a call for protests, reveals the extent of government response during some of the deadliest nights of the unrest. Video verification efforts from BBC Verify and BBC Persian have confirmed the harrowing reality inside Tehranpars hospital, where at least 31 bodies were counted in one video, alongside additional footage of body bags at the hospital entrance.
Scenes of protesters on a highway quickly escalated as gunfire erupted, leading to chaos as civilians screamed and sought refuge. Some protesters resorted to disabling surveillance measures amidst extensive state monitoring, with one clip documenting an individual attempting to destroy a CCTV camera in a crowd-fueled act of defiance.
In Kerman, recordings from a high vantage point depicted armed men in military garb firing weapons into the streets, further instilling fear as a fire raged in the vicinity. The presence of snipers was also documented in Mashhad, with video evidence showcasing their deployment during daylight hours.
As the violence escalates, reports indicate that the number of locations experiencing protests now exceeds 71, although the actual extent of demonstrations could be significantly greater. The unprecedented situation continues to unfold, with expectations for additional footage likely in the days to come, despite the crippling effects of the ongoing internet shutdown on communication and information dissemination.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), nearly 6,000 individuals, including over 5,600 protesters, have been confirmed killed since protests erupted in late December. Another 17,000 reported deaths are under investigation, further exacerbated by the ongoing blackout, which has lasted nearly three weeks.
Warnings from organizations like the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) indicate that the final casualty figures could exceed 25,000. In contrast, Iranian officials report that more than 3,100 fatalities occurred, with claims that most of these were security personnel or innocent bystanders attacked by rioters.
The latest footage, purportedly filmed on January 8 and 9 when demonstrators reacted to a call for protests, reveals the extent of government response during some of the deadliest nights of the unrest. Video verification efforts from BBC Verify and BBC Persian have confirmed the harrowing reality inside Tehranpars hospital, where at least 31 bodies were counted in one video, alongside additional footage of body bags at the hospital entrance.
Scenes of protesters on a highway quickly escalated as gunfire erupted, leading to chaos as civilians screamed and sought refuge. Some protesters resorted to disabling surveillance measures amidst extensive state monitoring, with one clip documenting an individual attempting to destroy a CCTV camera in a crowd-fueled act of defiance.
In Kerman, recordings from a high vantage point depicted armed men in military garb firing weapons into the streets, further instilling fear as a fire raged in the vicinity. The presence of snipers was also documented in Mashhad, with video evidence showcasing their deployment during daylight hours.
As the violence escalates, reports indicate that the number of locations experiencing protests now exceeds 71, although the actual extent of demonstrations could be significantly greater. The unprecedented situation continues to unfold, with expectations for additional footage likely in the days to come, despite the crippling effects of the ongoing internet shutdown on communication and information dissemination.
