Iran arrests dozens for ‘terrorist’ acts linked to protests
Intelligence Ministry says security forces confiscated arms and explosives from ‘safe houses’ kept by detainees
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TEHRAN, Iran — Iran says it has arrested dozens on suspicion of “terrorist activities” during a recent wave of protests.
The official IRNA news agency on Wednesday carried a statement from the Intelligence Ministry saying security forces confiscated arms and explosives from “safe houses” kept by the detainees. It says some detainees had filmed the protests.
Demonstrations broke out across Iran last month fueled by anger at the lackluster economy and official corruption. The protests spread to several towns and cities, with some demonstrators calling for the overthrow of the government.
Clashes broke out at some of the protests, and at least 21 people were killed.
Iran has accused the US, Israel and other foreign powers of inciting violence to try and overthrow the Islamic Republic.
Various figures were released previously by official sources over the number arrested over the recent unrest which hit several dozen towns and cities, with reformist lawmaker, Mahmoud Sadeghi, putting the total at 3,700 on Tuesday.
Human rights activists outside of Iran told The Associated Press on Tuesday they weren’t surprised by the figure as authorities also allegedly carried out so-called “preventative arrests” of students not involved in the protests. Some 4,000 arrests followed the 2009 protests.
The Times of Israel Community.