Paul Nyathi|A collection of Zimbabwe human rights groups says at least 12 people have been killed, at least 78 have been shot and more than 240 have faced “assault, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment” in a crackdown on protests that began on Monday over a dramatic rise in fuel prices.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum in a statement also says 466 people have been arbitrarily arrested or detained in what it calls “massive” violations.

The statement says children as young as 9 have been reportedly tortured as security forces break into private homes.

It calls it “regrettable” that Zimbabwe’s government is blaming civil society leaders for some of the country’s worst unrest in years.

The U.N. human rights office has also denounced excessive use of force by Zimbabwe’s security forces against protesters opposed to the dramatic fuel price increases and austerity measures.

Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters Friday in Geneva: “It’s very difficult to manage a situation like this, but the bottom line is that the use of live ammunition by security forces was used, excessive violence was used.”

She notes the burning of buildings and reports of looting. She says it is unclear whether “opportunists,” like hungry people searching for food, or “demonstrators” were behind it.

Shamdasani calls on all sides to refrain from violence.

At the same time scores of Zimbabweans injured during the government crackdown on protesters are streaming into hospitals in Harare.

Reports have been made by doctors of people with broken legs and other injuries. A nurse in Harare confirmed attending to a man with a broken spine.

Albert Taurai told news media The Associated Press that he had ventured out to look for bread when plainclothes officers wearing masks beat him up until he broke his spine.

Keith Frymore a security guard told the AP that a group of uniformed soldiers attacked him while at work.

As reports of the violent crackdown on citizens spread, the Zimbabwean government forced a “total internet shutdown” for much of Thursday and Friday in a move critics claim was meant to block information on the brutality being sent around.