Fire at Iran's notorious detention centre kills 4, multiple injuries reported

Picture Courtesy: Twitter

According to an Iranian state news agency, fire at Iran's notorious Evin prison has killed four prisoners and injured at least 61 others. Videos shared online showed flames and smoke at the site in Tehran, and gunshots and explosions could be heard.

This comes after weeks of anti-government protests across Iran. Many of those taking part in protests have been sent to Evin prison. It is not known whether the situation at the jail is linked to the demonstrations.

The current protests in Iran erupted after the death of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian Mahsa Amini in police custody. Officials said she died of a heart attack, but her family disputed this, saying she was beaten by morality police.

According to state media the fire at the prison is not linked to the protests. Speaking from inside the prison, Tehran's governor told state TV that there was a riot in a wing of the prison housing petty criminals.

Many journalists on social media have accused the authorities of "setting the prison ablaze intentionally" as a high profile political prisoner was sent home before it broke out. Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani - son of Iran's late former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - was given "early temporary release", according to his brother.