The situation in Tibet took a turn for the worse today. Three young Tibetans set themselves on fire, in the first reported triple self-immolation protest against communist rule.

The three were teenage monks, aged 15 and 16. They self-immolated around 3pm local time outside a Public Security Bureau in the Aba County of the Tibetan Autonomous Region in Sichuan Province.

According to Rights Group, Free Tibet, the youngest monk, 15 year-old Dorjee died at the scene. The other two victims were taken away by security officials. Their current situation is unknown.

In Qinghai province, a 23-year-old Tibetan nomad was also killed after a self-immolation protest.

I spoke with Stephanie Brigden, the Director of rights group Free Tibet earlier today, and here's what she had to say about the escalating crisis.

[Stephanie Brigden, Director, Free Tibet]
"I think it's really important that the international community must now recognize that we've reached more than 60 Tibetans who have set themselves on fire in order to send a message, not only to the Chinese regime, but also to the international community that they will continue to struggle for freedom, irrespective of the intimidation and coercion they suffer under Chinese security services. The international community must now start addressing the continued violation of human rights inside Tibet, as well as inside china. And they cannot continue to ignore the fact that there is an unelected Chinese regime who is committing very serious human rights against the Tibetan people as well as ordinary Chinese people."

For more news and videos visit ☛ http://ntd.tv
Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C