At least 9 people were killed overnight as protests across Iran entered a sixth day, AP reported citing Iranian state television.
Among those killed were six protesters who had attempted to steal guns from a police station in the town of Qahdarijan. Another two people were killed in the town of Khomeinishahr, and the ninth fatality was a member of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in the town of Najafabad.
The overall death toll after six days of unrest has reached 20 people, according to state TV.
Pro- and anti-government demonstrations have been taking place in Iran since Thursday. Economic hardship and alleged corruption mostly prompted the anti-government rallies.
Over 400 people have reportedly been arrested following the protests, according to AFP data from Sunday.
Late Monday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the protests may have been partially stirred up by external forces interested in destabilizing the country. “The enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran are angry with the glory, success, and the progress of the Iranian nation; and they have vowed to bring the regional troubles to Iran,” he said, according to the Iranian Mehr news agency.
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