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Eyewitness Inside Tehran Describes Brutal Police Attacks and Shootings

July 09, 2009 5:30 PM

ABC's Lara Setrakian with an update on Iran:

An apparent eyewitness account from Tehran today, came to me in an email in Persian.

"At 5 pm we went to one of the meeting points, but there was no one there...At 6 pm we were at the intersection of Palestine and Keshavarz Blvds (the center of town). The police were busy identifying people. There were two groups: the disciplinary forces (police) and the plainclothes (lebas shakhsi). Then we went towards Laleh Park but we saw that the demonstrators were coming from Laleh Park toward Vali Asr and they were shouting "Mir Hossein, Ya Hossein." We asked them why they're coming this way and they said every other way was closed, we had to change direction. Again we arrived at intersection of Palestine and Keshavarz Blvds and the police attacked with tear gas and batons. We were stuck and being attacked from both sides.

Rt_iran_protests_090709_main 

People had opened the doors of their houses, many were seeking refuge in the houses. People's cigarettes and the fires people had lit in their gardens were counteracting the tear gas. When things calmed down a bit we went toward Keshavarz again, but this time we were encircled from three sides -- East, West, and the Northern streets and alleyways. Suddenly an empty bus appeared and drove straight into the demonstration. Inside the bus was filled with plainclothes officers who were hiding and wanted to attack from the center of the crowd. We ran away toward the southern alleyways, one out of five houses open their doors for us. We heard shootings -- we don't know if the bullets injured anybody. But thereafter the houses were filled with people injured.

One person had his arm shattered in different places, another had a broken skulls. As soon as we came out of the houses they continued to use the tear gas and batons. We ran, but it was no use. A young girl and young man were killed in front of us. Know that it was the disciplinary forces that fired the bullets and were attacking people with the batons and tear gas. The plainclothes officers did not have batons, they had planks of wood to beat us to death. The Ansar (special forces) were also there, they took a young guy right in front of us. The police were attacking people; once they targeted someone they would catch them and hit them to death. There were a lot of people lost/disappeared.

The mobile phones were cut off in many areas. Our only hope was people's houses who had opened their doors to us. They had water and fire to counteract the tear gas and they all had first aid kits. After a lot of running away and chasing, we tried to get out of being encircled by police. The only option seemed like suicide -- we had to cross them, passing through hundreds of officers. They did not think that any protesters would come toward them, so they didn't think we were part of the demonstration. There was a lot going on during the rest of our journey, but all the roads heading toward Vali Asr were filled with cars honking their horns in protest. The police hitting the cars as well, using batons on... We were in the red zone and it was nothing less than war. Pray for us."

July 9, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (11)

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The young Iranian citizens have now seen first hand waht true tyranny is. They thirst for freedom, and although the United States should stay out of their affairs ditectly; I am puzzled that no arms have made their way into the country so that the citizens of Iran can fight for their own freedom. Possibly some one, some company, some government, should give this serious thought.

Posted by: Gregory Crawford | Jul 9, 2009 6:15:37 PM

Free Iran! yells a small inconsequential "voice". Thousands upon thousands of small insignificant "voices" are screaming their righteous indignation at their hardline dictators that run their country. They use their small "voice" in the hope that larger "voices" of more consequence will join them. "Voices" like the USA. But the USA seems to have lost its "voice", our leaders have larengitis when it comes to this issue. That is a sad truth. When did the USA decide to let other country's lead the free world, countries like the UK, and the entire EU have taken a stand against Iran, even small African countries have said enough is enough. Sadly the US has no "voice" on this issue. Why do I think it is so important to have a "voice" on this issue? First and selfishly, because if we helped to free Iran then it would be the largest blow to date against terrorism. Iran's hardline muslim clerics are the real leaders of the enemy that wants to destroy us. They use their countries oil money to fund Hamas, Hezzbollah, and even Al Queida! Where do you think they get the money for guns and bombs to kill us? All those attacks in Iraq...thats Iran. When Iran is free and friendly to the US all that stops! Second, we are Americans we have always had a "voice", ours has always been loudest in the pursuit of freedom and happiness. Other people find their "voice" because of us. I think God intended it to be that way. Finnally I say Remember Neda!! Remember a beautiful young girl who found her "voice" and was murdered for it! She was murdered by her own government for finding her "voice". The sad irony here, is that in Farsi Neda means "voice". So I call on the people of America to be Americans, and find your "voice". Find your "voice" and write your congressman write the news media; flood them with so many "voices" that the cacophony of sound overwhelms them and drives them to action. Find your "voice" and use it now,.....while you still have one! And above all else Remeber Neda!!!!!

Posted by: LOVE TO SEE FREE IRAN | Jul 9, 2009 6:53:28 PM

We're having some of those "brutal" attacks against citizens too. Only it's not taking place in Iran. It continues to take place in America. Within a less than three month span, several young African American men have been gunned down by police.

Posted by: N_America_Too | Jul 9, 2009 8:04:51 PM

This is what ALL countries can expect when they disarm the Citizens, ...this is Gun Control and it's the ONLY reason for it, so the People cannot fight back.

Posted by: John Brashear | Jul 9, 2009 9:08:23 PM

What is happening in Iran and Also in China is truely tragic. As the other gentleman stated, this is what happens when a citizenry is disarmed. Our founding fathers understood this and that is why we have second ammendment rights to keep and bare arms. This should be a wakeup call for all of us who value our freedom.

Posted by: Comodus218 | Jul 10, 2009 12:25:34 AM

The founding fathers were the first government. Of course they installed the 2nd amendment to keep them in line. Bt all means lets have another Columbine or Oklahoma City. What can we do in Iran? Not much. It should be up to the Arab Leaque to get involved.

Posted by: isidro garcia | Jul 10, 2009 1:06:54 AM

Next to the American independence war, and the French revolution, this recent struggle in Iran is the purest, most original, exhibition of a people's will to retain God's most precious gift to every man, woman, and child: FREEDOM!

May God Bless These Iranian Freedom Fighters. In the, would be, words of JFK: "I am Iranian" !

Posted by: JosephE | Jul 10, 2009 1:35:21 AM

:}

Posted by: DANIEL | Jul 10, 2009 2:29:30 AM

This is what happens when gov'ts no longer fear the people. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Even in Ancient times, cruel, tyranical Roman Emperor's were brought down by the will of the people, often times with the consent and blessing of the army.

Posted by: Comodus218 | Jul 10, 2009 3:40:19 AM

OK, all you gunowners out there -- let's see if you can "walk the walk." Instead of whining about gun control, how about if you send a couople of your "extra" guns (ya'll only really need about 20 or so) to the students in Iran. If you think guns will help, send some. Or shut up!

Posted by: Vet | Jul 10, 2009 11:51:22 AM

praying very hard and grieving!!!! but i want to do more!

Posted by: laila | Jul 11, 2009 12:10:58 AM

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