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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
David Rising and Jon Gambrell

Iran shuts off internet as protests blaze. A timeline of how unrest unfolded and grew

This video grab taken on January 9, 2026, from UGC images shared online on January 8, 2026, shows demonstrators chanting ‘death to the dictator’ - (UGC/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran was largely cut off from the outside world on Friday after authorities blacked out the internet to curb growing unrest, and videos showed buildings aflame in anti-government protests raging in cities across the country.

Rights groups have documented dozens of deaths of protesters in nearly two weeks and, with Iranian state TV showing clashes and fires, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that several police officers had been killed overnight.

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