TEHRAN – At least three Iranian policemen have been killed and several morewere wounded during a protest in Tehran, where members of a religious sectgathered around a police station to demand the release of one of theirorder.

The incident took place on Pasdaran Street in northern Tehran. Footage fromthe scene shows officers in riot gear being chased down the street afterapparently having come under attack by protesters.

According to Reuters, a police spokesman revealed on state TV that: *”Somedisruptors of security and order used a bus today and killed three policeofficers.” **”The murderers were arrested seconds after their crime,”* thespokesman added. Ten people were immediately arrested at the scene and thearea has now been sealed off by the security forces.

The protesters were dervishes from the Sufi order of Gonabadi. In Sufism,dervishes are known for their vows of poverty and austerity, as well as thetrance-like dances in their rituals. Some human rights and activist groupshave alleged that dervishes face persecution in Iran.