HUGE spike in reports of violence in Iran -ppl attacking police,TANKS in front of interior ministry

[jefferson_dem]

3:46 PM ET -- Major uptick in violence reported. In the last hour, there has been a sharp spike in the number of (unconfirmed) reports about intensified violence:

From ABC's Jim Sciutto: "inside the protests tonight, if you support ahmadinajad, no police, you criticize him, get pepper spray, tear gas, batons... Anti-govt protests have spread to other Iranian cities, incl Rasht... We witnessed police spraying pepper gas into the eyes of peaceful female protesters... Two worlds in Tehran tonight. Support Ahmadinejad, free rein. Oppose him, risk police attacks, tear gas, batons, arrest8 minutes ago from web"

From an emailer Salim: "This is beginning to mirror what I witnessed in the first revolution. When people start taking over military centers. There is report that a basiji center in Northern Tehran around Tajrish has been captured by the protesters. This would potentially mean weapons in hands of protesters. I'll let you know if I heard more."

From @tehranbureau: "basij and security forces had fought for hours to subdue the people... My friends who work in the tehran hospitals said the number of injured was staggering"

From @winston80: "heavy clashes in Shiraz (southern Iran) reported. ppl attacking police"

From @iranelection09: "URGENT JUST IN, there are TANKS in front of the interior ministry of tehran in valiasr st. & fatemi cross CAREFUL"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/13/iran-demonstrations-viole_n_215189.html

[graywarrior]

1. Holy crap!

[pdxmom]

2. I'm not much of a Twitter fan, but have been following it off and all

for most of the day. It looks like it is really getting bad there. Lots of rumors, but enough stuff being sourced that it's obvious this is an incredibly volatile situation.

[DCBob]

3. Wow. This might be the beginning of something very important about to happen.

The key will be what the military does.

[DCBob]

4. "NBC offices in Tehran raided, cameras and Equipment confiscated....

BBC told to get out Iran immediately. Cell/internet shut down"

This is getting very interesting....