Hundreds of Iranian prisoners in several cities have attempted to escape on Saturday night amid a coronavirus outbreak in Iran, informed sources told Avatoday on condition of anonymity.
Gunshots were heard from inside a prison in the Kurdish city of Mahabad, where dozens of prisoners have reportedly managed to escape, while two killed and several others were wounded by anti-riot forces.
Similar attempts were reported from separate prisons in Tehran, Hamadan and Mashhad on the same night.
“Detainees put some units on fire while trying to escape from Hamadan prison, some have succeeded,” a source told Avatoday.
Families of prisoners have reportedly gathered in front of the prison concerning about the gunshots. Some 4000 prisoners are kept in Hamadan prison.
Security forces have allegedly controlled the situation in Tehran prison. Tensions and attempts of prison break were also reported from Mashhad. Avatoday was unable to independently confirm.
These attempts occurred days after hundreds of prisoners from several Iranian cities including from the Kurdish city of Saqez had escaped. No political prisoners are believed to be among those who broke the prison.
Iranian prisons are facing difficult time as a coronavirus outbreak in the country caused thousands of deaths.
