Iran security official appears to fire on crowd at cemetery

Crowds of mourners appear to have been fired on by a security official at a cemetery in Iran.

The incident happened in Abdanan, in west Iran, on Tuesday as people gathered to commemorate those killed during the government's brutal crackdown on protesters last month.

Iranians usually hold commemoration ceremonies on the 40th day after someone dies. The events have been held in several cities across the country to mourn the thousands killed during the deadliest nights of protests on 8 and 9 January.

Verified video also shows people shouting anti-government chants at events in Tehran, Mashhad and Abdanan on Tuesday as crowds gathered at cemeteries and in the streets for commemorations.

State-organised ceremonies were broadcast on TV and attended by senior government and military officials where people were led by organisers to chant "death to America".

BBC Verify and BBC Persian have verified footage of people chanting "death to Khamenei", referencing Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

An armoured vehicle is then seen driving past the crowd of mourners as an apparent security official opens fire. People are heard screaming and seen fleeing the area as two gunshots ring out.

The person who appears to be in uniform is seen pointing the gun away from the camera when the first shot is fired, before pointing the gun towards the crowd when a second shot can be heard. A puff of smoke near the gun is visible after each shot.

Another verified video from the cemetery shows smoke in the distance as people run away from the scene and several gunshots can be heard.

State-run IRIB News claimed that the event was peaceful and reports of people injured or killed were not true.

A billboard in the background of one the videos shows a picture of Alireza Seydi, a teenager from Abdanan who was understood to have been killed during the protests in Tehran last month and appears to be one of those commemorated during the ceremony.

Weeks of anti-government protests started in late December which began over the economy but rapidly escalated. It peaked on 8 and 9 January after Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late shah, called for nationwide protests to take place.

Thousands of people were killed in one of the deadliest government crackdowns in recent years. BBC Verify previously reported that it had spread to more than 68 towns and cities across the country.

Khamenei last month acknowledged that thousands had been killed during the protests and blamed the US for the deaths.

Additional reporting by Daniele Palumbo and Shayan Sardarizadeh