Evin prison fire: Four inmates killed in blaze and 61 injured say Iranian authorities

Iranian authorities said four inmates were killed from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at the infamous Evin prison in Tehran.
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Videos shared online showed flames and smoke at the site in Tehran [source: Getty]

Iran's judiciary said that four prisoners have been killed and 61 others were injured on Sunday after a fire broke out at Tehran's Evin prison overnight, the official state news agency IRNA reported.

According to the report, the four prisoners died due to smoke inhalation caused by the fire and 61 others were injured, with 51 of these treated on an outpatient basis, IRNA added.

A fire broke out on Saturday at Iran's notorious Evin prison. In the hills near Tehran, the prison is known for detaining political activists and dissents. 

Iranian authorities said on Sunday that the situation was "under control". They blamed "clashes" between inmates for causing the blaze. 

Protests have swept across Iran for the last month following the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. These demonstrations have morphed into a direct challenge against the Islamic Republic.