Protests against Iran's ayatollah-led regime escalated on Thursday night, and according to testimonies, the response was lethal. The Tehran-based doctor claimed that the six hospitals alone documented at least 217 fatalities among demonstrators, the majority caused by live ammunition.
If confirmed, the figures would point to the kind of violent crackdown international organisations had feared, particularly after the regime almost completely cut off internet and phone services across the country beginning Thursday night. Such a move could put Tehran on a direct collision course with US President Donald Trump, who earlier warned that the regime would "pay a heavy price" if it used violence against protesters.
According to the doctor, authorities began removing bodies from hospitals as early as Friday. Most of those killed were reportedly young people. Activists also reported that machine guns were fired at protesters outside a police station in northern Tehran, an incident in which at least 30 people were shot and killed on the spot.
Human rights organizations, however, have reported lower figures. The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency, which counts only victims identified by name, said at least 63 people had been killed since the protests began, including 49 civilians. The discrepancy may stem from differences in reporting methods.
TIME said it was unable to independently verify the numbers because of severe access restrictions and the communications blackout imposed by the regime.
