A journalist from Iran's TV network was stabbed outside his London home, leading to an investigation by counter-terrorism police.
Iran International reported that Pouria Zeraati, who was attacked with a knife on Friday, is now in stable condition.
At 2:49pm, police and paramedics responded to a man in his thirties who had sustained a leg injury at an address in Wimbledon, south London, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The Metropolitan Police stated that his condition is not believed to be life-threatening, and no arrests have been made at this time.
The Metropolitan Police explained that the motivation behind the attack was unclear, but given the victim's occupation and recent threats to UK-based Iranian journalists, the investigation is being handled by specialist counter-terrorism officers.
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, mentioned that the investigation is being led by the Counter Terrorism Command due to concerns about threats to employees of the victim's organization, although the reason for the attack is not yet known.
It is still unclear why the victim was attacked, and there could be various explanations for the incident, according to the early stage of the investigation.
Detectives are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry while assessing the circumstances of the incident, and their priority is to identify and apprehend the perpetrator.
Commander Murphy acknowledged the potential impact of the incident on individuals in similar lines of work and those from Iranian communities, expressing that additional patrols will be conducted in Wimbledon and other locations across London as a precautionary measure.
Close cooperation with the victim’s organization continues, and as a precaution, additional patrols will be carried out in the Wimbledon area and other sites across London to offer reassurance in the coming days to those affected and concerned.
The public is encouraged to contact the authorities if they observed anything suspicious in the Wimbledon area today.
Since 2022, law enforcement has reportedly thwarted several plots to kidnap or assassinate British or UK-based individuals identified as adversaries of the Iranian regime.
Iran International English shared on X, formerly Twitter, that journalist @pouriazeraati was assaulted with a knife outside his London residence.
@pouriazeraati sustained injuries but is in a stable condition as the Metropolitan Police investigates the matter.
The attack follows the Iranian regime's 2022 plot to kill two @IranIntl television anchors @Sima-Sabet and @FardadFarahzad.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, condemned the incident as a 'cowardly attack' and 'deeply shocking'.
She expressed the hope for a swift recovery for Pouria Zeraati, emphasizing thoughts with him, his family, and colleagues at Iran International.
It is too soon to tell if this violent attack is linked to the increasing intimidation and harassment by Iran, including the plan to kill journalists Fardad Farahzad and Sima Sabet in 2022.
However, this cruel stabbing will surely make many targeted journalists at Iran International and the BBC Persian Service worry about their safety at home and work.
Ms Stanistreet said: ‘The NUJ sends its collective best wishes to Pouria and hopes he has a swift and full recovery.
‘We will keep talking with the Metropolitan Police and the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, as part of our broader effort to stop the harassment and targeting of journalists.’
Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron criticized Iran’s reported conviction of BBC Persian journalists, calling it ‘unacceptable’.
He said: ‘Documents published online suggest that 10 BBC Persian staff have been tried and convicted in Iran in absentia of propaganda against the Islamic Republic.
‘I think this is completely unacceptable behavior. We do raise these issues with our Iranian counterparts.
‘And also, when I last met the Iranian foreign minister, I raised the case of the fact that Iran was paying thugs to try and murder Iranian journalists providing free and independent information for Iran TV in Britain.
‘On both counts, in my view, they are guilty.’
Ms Stanistreet said: ‘The systematic targeting of journalists, simply for doing their jobs, has to stop. The international community needs to increase the pressure on Iran and the UN needs to hold Iran accountable for its actions.’
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