An Iranian journalist was hospitalized after being stabbed multiple times outside his London home on Friday afternoon.
British anti-terrorism police have launched an investigation into the stabbing death of British-based Iranian journalist Poulia Zehrati, a show host on the Iranian International Television Network who has been a harsh critic of Tehran’s Islamist government.
According to information report by telegraph paper, Ms Zelati was leaving her London home at around 3.15pm on Friday when she was approached by a man who tried to strike up a conversation. During this time, another man attacked from behind and began stabbing the journalist with a knife.
The two attackers then reportedly fled with the help of a third man who was waiting in a nearby car. Mr Zelati was taken to hospital and treated for multiple stab wounds. His condition is believed to be stable.
talk to SunCommander Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command. Said: “Given the victim’s occupation and the concerns expressed publicly about the threat to employees of the organization, we do not intend to be biased, but the investigation is being led by the Counter-Terrorism Command.
“We must stress that at this early stage of the investigation it is not known why this victim was attacked and there are many possible explanations for this.
“While we continue to assess the circumstances of this incident, detectives are pursuing a number of lines of investigation and our priority at this time is to identify and arrest those behind this attack. be.”
Previously, Iran’s Islamist regime classified Zelati’s television network is being treated as a terrorist group for allegedly inciting an uprising against the government in 2022.
Last year, the Persian TV network temporarily suspended operations in London and relocated staff to offices in Washington, D.C. that’s all “Significant escalation of state-sponsored threats from Iran.” However, Iran’s international station eventually resumed broadcasting from the UK.
In December, British broadcaster ITV report Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) reportedly plotted to assassinate two Iranian international journalists, Fardad Farazad and Sima Sabet, offering smugglers £150,000 to raid their homes with knives. It is being It was speculated that the plot may have been a backup after a failed attempt to detonate a car bomb outside Iran’s international headquarters in London.
Shima Sabet comments on attack Said This is a “serious warning and extremely troubling move for all journalists and journalists who oppose the Islamic Republic in the UK and other Western countries. Counter-terrorism police have been in constant contact with me over the past few months. I am grateful for that.” . However, we must emphasize that the UK Government has not taken sufficient, meaningful, decisive and effective political action against Iranian terrorism.
“As a journalist and a British citizen, I cannot hide my criticism and concern at this political and diplomatic inaction. Many of my journalist friends also agree with this assessment.
“London is our home. Britain must be a safe place for journalists from all media, but a dangerous place for extremists and terrorists at the behest of Tehran. Our Voice , we will not be silenced by threats or terrorism. Journalism is not a crime. State terrorism is. Stop it.”
Mr Sabet said after the stabbing he was urged by Metropolitan Police to leave the house and “remain elsewhere until further notice”.
