Warning: The following story contains graphic details of violence which some readers might find upsetting.
A comprehensive analysis by BBC News Persian of numerous videos and photographs from recent protests reveals the extensive use of lethal weaponry by Iranian security forces, including machine guns, sniper rifles, and shotguns. Protesters have been killed across more than 200 cities, amid an unclear death toll that suggests thousands may have lost their lives due to the severe violence employed by authorities.
Escalating protests that began with economic grievances quickly devolved into one of the most brutal crackdowns in Iran's modern history, with experts labeling this as possibly the largest mass killing in recent Iranian history. The Iranian government has attributed these deaths to "rioters and terrorists," but evidence points to a systematic use of heavy weaponry against civilians.
The employed weaponry includes:
Eyewitness accounts and forensic examinations have identified the brutal use of snipers targeting protesters, with several confirmed fatalities stemming from precision gunshot wounds. Documented injuries illustrate a widespread use of rubber bullets and lead projectiles, causing numerous permanent injuries. Many individuals have been hospitalized with severe wounds due to shotgun pellets and related trauma.
Testimonies revealed horrifying incidents where security agents wielded machetes and knives, attacking protesters directly, adding to the atmosphere of terror during the protests.
The evidence accumulated reveals a deliberate and gruesome campaign to suppress dissent within the country, with the implications of these actions extending beyond immediate physical violence into pervasive fear and trauma in Iranian society.
A comprehensive analysis by BBC News Persian of numerous videos and photographs from recent protests reveals the extensive use of lethal weaponry by Iranian security forces, including machine guns, sniper rifles, and shotguns. Protesters have been killed across more than 200 cities, amid an unclear death toll that suggests thousands may have lost their lives due to the severe violence employed by authorities.
Escalating protests that began with economic grievances quickly devolved into one of the most brutal crackdowns in Iran's modern history, with experts labeling this as possibly the largest mass killing in recent Iranian history. The Iranian government has attributed these deaths to "rioters and terrorists," but evidence points to a systematic use of heavy weaponry against civilians.
The employed weaponry includes:
- Machine guns
- Sniper rifles
- Assault rifles
- Shotguns
- Handguns
- Pellet-firing paintball guns
- Tear gas
- Machetes
- Knives
- Batons
- Large wooden clubs
- Green laser sights and pointers
Eyewitness accounts and forensic examinations have identified the brutal use of snipers targeting protesters, with several confirmed fatalities stemming from precision gunshot wounds. Documented injuries illustrate a widespread use of rubber bullets and lead projectiles, causing numerous permanent injuries. Many individuals have been hospitalized with severe wounds due to shotgun pellets and related trauma.
Testimonies revealed horrifying incidents where security agents wielded machetes and knives, attacking protesters directly, adding to the atmosphere of terror during the protests.
The evidence accumulated reveals a deliberate and gruesome campaign to suppress dissent within the country, with the implications of these actions extending beyond immediate physical violence into pervasive fear and trauma in Iranian society.
