Anti-government protesters set fire to the towns principal prayer hall and vehicles belonging to the police on Wednesday morning. Various government buildings including the governors office were also attacked and the commander of State Security Forces was beaten by protestors. A government agency, Bonyad Panzdah Khordad, was completely ransacked.
Witnesses reported that women took part in great numbers during todays clashes with the security forces. One witness described how several women attacked policemen who had detained a teenage boy and freed him.
In Hahlou Square, protestors chanted Down with Khamenei, referring to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In an attempt to contain the unrest, agents of the SSF opened fire on protestors. There were reports of several people being killed by SSF gunfire. By early afternoon, at least 30 people had been arrested.
Todays unrest in Saqqez started at Oqab Square just before noon as hundreds of protestors attacked a local Bassij post with sticks and stones. The Bassij are paramilitary Islamic vigilantes loyal to the Supreme Leader.
The latest clashes come in the wake of a series of protests that have swept Kurdish towns and cities in Iran for the past weeks. Dozens of protesters have been injured or arrested by government troops in several towns.
