In brief
Recent protests in Iran have witnessed a disturbing escalation of violence, as confirmed by an analysis of videos and photographs documenting the use of machine guns, sniper rifles, shotguns, and even machetes against protesters. Human rights reports suggest thousands have been killed, marking one of the most lethal crackdowns in Iranian history, with the government attributing the bloodshed to 'rioters and terrorists.'
Warning: The following story contains graphic details of violence which some readers might find upsetting.A BBC News Persian analysis of hundreds of videos and photographs taken during recent protests in Iran confirms the security forces' use of a wide range of weaponry, including machine guns, sniper rifles, and shotguns.Protesters have reportedly been killed in over 200 cities where protests have occurred. While the exact death toll remains uncertain, the deployment of brutal weapons shown in photographs and reports from human rights groups indicate that thousands have been killed across the country.The crackdown, which began over economic grievances, escalated rapidly and has been characterized by a level of violence unprecedented in modern Iranian history. Payam Akhavan, a former UN prosecutor, described the current situation as the largest mass killing in contemporary Iranian history and one of the largest in the world.The Iranian government has attributed the violence to rioters and terrorists, but analysis of the security forces' armaments reveals a variety of weapons used against civilians, including:
- 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 (for blinding and targeting)
