Law enforcement officers in the Islamic Republic of Iran have allegedly resorted to firing live bullets in a frantic bid to quell raging protests that have engulfed the country.
Scores of people sustained wounds as a result of the firing, the Guardian has reported.
“They were firing teargas repeatedly, we couldn’t see anywhere and we were screaming. We were getting blinded. Forces were firing teargas back to back. A young girl beside me was shot in the leg. It was terrible, terrible," a witness said.
The protests were touched off after Iranian leaders admitted guilt in the downing of a Ukrainian International Airlines plane, an admission that came on the back of spirited denials.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards forces fired missiles that hit the ill-fated plane that had left the Tehran Airport.
President Hassan Rouhani said that the plane was hit unintentionally and offered the government's condolences to the families of the victims of the crash.
Western powers had claimed that the plane was hit by an Iranian missiles even as Iran rubbished those claims.
Protesters took to the streets chanting anti-government slogans.
Videos of the government's strong response have been shared with human rights organisations according to the Time Magazine.