In 1850 Mirza Taqi Khan, Grand Vizier of the new Nasiri'd-Din
Shah of Persia, ordered the Báb to be executed. On 9 July 1850 the Báb was
brought before a firing squad in the barracks square of Tabriz, along with a
young follower. When the smoke cleared, the crowd was amazed that the Báb was nowhere
to be seen. He was located in the room He had occupied, finishing a
conversation with His amanuensis. The commander of the Armenian regiment, Sam
Khan, refused to fire a second time and another regiment had to be found. This
time their bullets killed the Báb and His companion.
(‘A Basic Baha’i Dictionary’, by Wendi Momen)
(‘A Basic Baha’i Dictionary’, by Wendi Momen)