SG. Vienna, March 30, 2024
As reported here yesterday, vicious and often murderous attacks on colleagues continue – sometimes in another country. In London, a popular Persian-language opposition Iranían broadcaster, Pouria Zeraati, 36, was repeatedly stabbed in broad daylight outside his home, the Daily Telegraph reported today. The two attackers are likely to have been criminals paid for their services.
Metropolitan Police said it was the latest in a series of recent threats to Iranian journalists: “London Ambulance Service paramedics attended with police and the man was treated before being taken to hospital. Thankfully his condition is not believed to be life-threatening.”
- There have been no arrests. Earlier this year, UK counter-terrorism police said it had foiled 15 plots linked to Iran, notably aimed at journalists critical of the Tehran regime. Iran International had previously been declared a “terrorist organisation” by Iran and in December 2023 detectives uncovered a plot by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) to assassinate two journalists in London, Fardad Farahzad and his colleague Sima Sabet, but it was foiled when one of the hired assassins double-crossed the state. A people smuggler had apparently been offered more than £150,000 for the murders.
- 31/03/24 Guardian, London: Tehran denies involvement in attack.. Iranian colleague under 24-hur armed police guard since May 2023.
- 24/03/24 Bellingcat: online tracking down villains