London — Authorities in London reported on Tuesday night that three individuals believed to be connected to a stabbing incident involving a journalist from an Iranian news outlet outside his residence had left the United Kingdom. The journalist, Pouria Zeraati, who works for Iran International, suffered a leg wound during the attack that took place on Friday afternoon.
Zeraati mentioned that he was released from a London hospital on Saturday and is currently "staying in a secure location under the protection of the Metropolitan Police" along with his spouse.
"The outpouring of sympathy, kindness, and love that I have received in the past few days has been and continues to be the most powerful and positive energy driving my recovery," Zeraati stated in a social media update.
Iran International, viewed as an opposition media outlet by many within Iran, emerged as a crucial source of information for Iranians during the nationwide protests following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in custody.
The channel, predominantly run by Iranian expatriates residing in the United Kingdom and United States, broadcasted user-generated videos from the protests, offering a unique perspective on the challenges to the Iranian government's authority.
- The Iranian news outlet targeted by Tehran
Despite being officially banned within Iran, the channel remains accessible through satellite technology.
During the latter part of 2022, London antiterrorism authorities alerted certain employees of Iran International about credible threats to their safety. In response, armed security personnel were deployed and additional barriers were set up outside their London studio. Eventually, the entire studio was relocated to a different site.
Tehran alleges that the channel is linked to Saudi Arabia, Iran's political adversary, and has gone as far as labeling its staff as terrorists. Iran International, on the other hand, asserts that while its parent company does receive funding from a Saudi financier, its editorial decisions remain independent.
According to London police reports, Zeratti was assaulted on a Friday afternoon around 3 p.m. by two individuals on his residential street. He sustained a leg injury during the incident, following which the attackers fled in a vehicle driven by a third accomplice. The trio abandoned the car, which was later recovered and is currently under police examination. Subsequently, the men departed from the U.K. via Heathrow Airport a few hours later.
Authorities have not disclosed the destination of the suspects after leaving the U.K., but have confirmed collaboration with international partners to gather further details on the incident.
"The motive behind the attack on the victim is still under investigation, and we are exploring all possible reasons for this incident," stated Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. "We are actively pursuing all leads and keeping an open mind regarding the possible motivations for the attack."
Iran's charge d'affaires in London, Mehdi Hosseini Matin, has refuted any connection between the government in Tehran and the stabbing incident in London, as reported by the U.K.'s Independent newspaper.
