Exiled Iranian journalist stabbed in London
The stabbing of Pouria Zeraati, a journalist for a private Iranian channel based in London, represents a “
huge shock
” and an unprecedented attack in a context of “
very serious threats
”, a spokesperson for the channel said on Saturday .
London police, whose anti-terrorist command is investigating, announced Saturday evening that the victim had been found in Wimbledon, in the southwest of the British capital, injured in the leg. (illustrative image). AP - Matt Dunham
By: RFI with AFP
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According to Iran International TV, a channel which had to close its London offices for seven months last year on the recommendation of the police, the 36-year-old journalist was attacked near his home in the British capital.
Pouria Zeraati, "
is doing well
" and is in hospital in a "
stable condition
", said Adam Baillie, spokesperson for the channel, on the BBC on Saturday. He posted a photo on his hospital bed on the X network.
✌️ pic.twitter.com/luEl7wTuYi
— Pouria Zeraati (@pouriazeraati) March 30, 2024
“
It’s a huge shock
”, “
it’s the first attack of this kind
”, he stressed.
“
Very serious threats
”
London police, whose anti-terrorism command is investigating, announced Saturday evening that the victim had been found in Wimbledon, in the southwest of the British capital, injured in one leg after an attack with a weapon white. “
The fact that anti-terrorism has been seized speaks for itself
,” said Adam Baillie, asserting that the Persian-language channel's journalists, like those of the BBC, have been the subject of “
very heavy threats for 18 months
".
“
For us it doesn’t change anything
,” continued the channel’s spokesperson. “
This adds to the general level of anxiety that our journalists and presenters face
,” he continued, referring to thwarted assassination plans, “
but they continue their work
,” “
they are not martyrs
.” Despite the threats, no one left the channel, he assured, "
people are very involved in the idea of a free and independent news service for Iran
."
Classified as a terrorist organization by Tehran
“
Their safety is our number one priority
,” the spokesperson added. For several years, London police have been investigating threats from Iran targeting British journalists working for Persian-language media. In December, an Austrian national was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for carrying out reconnaissance with a view to retaliating against Iran International TV.
The Iranian government classified the channel as a terrorist organization after its coverage of protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 following her arrest by morality police.
Last year, the British government unveiled a tougher sanctions regime against Iran over alleged human rights abuses and hostile actions against its opponents on the ground British.
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