Machine guns to machetes: Weapons that massacred thousands in Iran
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A BBC News Persian analysis of videos and photos reveals the Iranian security forces used a wide array of weaponry against protesters in over 200 cities during recent protests. The analysis, corroborated by witness accounts and human rights reports, indicates thousands have been killed in what is described as an unprecedented level of violence in modern Iranian history. Weapons used included machine guns, sniper rifles, assault rifles, shotguns, and handguns, as well as less conventional weapons like machetes, knives, and large wooden clubs. The Iranian government attributes the killings to "rioters and terrorists," but the BBC's investigation identified specific weapons and their deployment by security forces in various locations, including Tehran, Isfahan, and Yazdanshahr. The protests, initially focused on the economy, escalated rapidly, leading to a severe crackdown.
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AI-ExtractedThe Iranian government has blamed the killings on 'rioters and terrorists'.
Footage shows both heavy and medium machine guns mounted on military pickup trucks.
This is the largest mass killing in contemporary Iranian history and one of the largest in the world.
Security forces used a wide range of weaponry, including machine guns, sniper rifles and shotguns against protesters.
Thousands have been killed across the country.
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