Iran's Evin Prison chief fled its premises moments before Israeli strike: Report

One of the most calculated air strikes conducted by Israel in its campaign against Iran was at the notorious Evin Prison, where numerous political prisoners and anti-state journalists have been detained. Israeli missiles struck the prison gates in what it called an attack on Iranian "repression infrastructure."

However, now a report has emerged that Israel warned the chief of Evin Prison Hedayatollah Farzadi to release political prisoners before an airstrike. "It will happen in a few minutes," a message sent to Farzadi's son Amir by Israeli operatives read, adding that his father would be targeted if he did not release the political prisoners. A panicked Amir relayed the message to his uncle who helped Farzadi flee from the compound just moments before the strike, according to Fox News. 

Farzadi was seen escaping in a car just minutes before the strike, and has not been seen since.

However, Tehran Province Prisons Department rubbished the report, stating Farzadi was inspecting the prison wards at the time of the strike. Farzadi, who has been sanctioned by the US and EU, has been in charge of the prison for the last three years. 

Meanwhile, Iranian judicial spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said on Sunday that Israel's attack on the Evin Prison killed 71 people. "In the attack on Evin prison, 71 people were martyred including administrative staff, youth doing their military service, detainees, family members of detainees who were visiting them and neighbours who lived in the prison’s vicinity," Jahangir said.