Photos: Protests erupt in Iran after military admits downing plane

The Iranian military on Saturday apologised for mistakenly bringing down the Ukrainian plane on January 15, killing all 176 aboard. Protesters piled pressure on Iran's leadership on Sunday with demands for top authorities to quit after the Iranian military’s confession at a time when it had feared US strikes. Iran's president said it was a "disastrous mistake". But a top Revolutionary Guards commander added to public fury when he said he had told the authorities on the same day as the crash that an Iranian missile had struck the plane.

Updated on: Jan 13, 2020 6:51 PM IST

News

Share via

• 
• 
• 

Copy link

• 

1/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 6:51 PM

Demonstrators raise slogans during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was unintentionally shot down by the Iranian military, in Tehran. Iran on January 11 admitted it unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner that it mistook for a cruise missile, a dramatic reversal after days of denials that triggered international condemnation and protests in the streets of Tehran. (Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg)

2/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 6:51 PM

Demonstrators light candles for the victims during a vigil. “They are lying that our enemy is America, our enemy is right here,” dozens of protesters chanted outside a university in Tehran. Scores of demonstrators were also seen gathered in other cities. (Bloomberg)

3/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 6:51 PM

Tehran residents told Reuters—police were out in force in the capital on Sunday, as public anger boiled up following days of denials by the military that it was to blame, even as Canada and the United States said a missile had brought the plane down. (Bloomberg)

4/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 6:51 PM

Riot police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters in the capital on Saturday, where many had chanted “Death to the dictator”, directing their anger at the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Bloomberg)

5/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 6:51 PM

A woman attending a candle-light vigil to remember the victims of the Ukraine plane crash, speaks to a policeman asking for his sympathy, at the gate of Amri Kabir University in Tehran. (Mona Hoobehfekr/AP)

6/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 6:51 PM

A pool of blood is seen near Azadi Square after police broke up a demonstration in Tehran. The Ukraine Airlines plane was shot down minutes after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday, when Iranian forces were on alert for US reprisals following tit-for-tat strikes. Many of those on board were Iranians with dual citizenship, while 57 were holders of Canadian passports. (AP)

7/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 6:51 PM

Public fury at Iran’s authorities had grown as questions about the plane crash mounted. Iranians on social media asked why officials were busy fending off criticism from abroad rather than sympathising with grieving families. Others asked why the plane was allowed to take off at a time of high tension. (Bloomberg)