Iranian police shot dead a nine-year-old boy in Khuzestan province while he was allegedly riding in a stolen car with his father.

According to the American news agency Associated Press, on the website of the Iranian police, Shushtar town police chief Ruhollah Begdali said that “the police opened fire and tried to stop the stolen car, which resulted in the death of the boy.”

Police say the boy’s father is a criminal and has been involved in car theft and drug trafficking. According to police, the man was warned several times before the shooting, but he did not stop.

Iran’s Jumaran news website identified the boy as nine-year-old Murtaza. The boy’s father has alleged that the police did not give any warning before the shooting.

The boy’s photo has been posted on social media and people are mourning his death.

Nine-year-old Kian was also shot dead in November last year and his mother blamed the security forces.

The boy was walking with his parents in a street where a protest was taking place in the city of Iza, Khuzestan province, when he was shot and killed.