A major fire broke out on Saturday at Iran’s notorious Evin prison, known for housing political prisoners, journalists, and foreign nationals.
Videos shared online showed flames and smoke at the site in Tehran, and gunshots and explosions could be heard.
An official quoted by state media said the situation was under control, but video footage appeared to show the fire continuing after this.
The official said prisoners set fire to a warehouse full of prison uniforms, which caused the blaze. He said the “rioters” had been separated from the other prisoners to de-escalate the conflict.
The “situation is completely under control”, the official added, and firefighters are extinguishing the flames.
Iran has been gripped for weeks by anti-government protests.
They first erupted last month 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.
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, and the situation was now completely calm.
Dramatic footage of the fire and smoke was first posted on social media on Saturday evening.
Gunshots and explosions were audible in several videos, and in others people could be heard outside the prison chanting “death to the dictator” – one of the main slogans of the anti-government protest movement.
Large crowds gathered outside the prison, traffic came to a standstill and riot police were seen entering the facility.
