In a tense standoff, four people have been taken to the hospital and several arrests made after a protest erupted outside the Iranian embassy in London on Friday night. The incident began when a protester managed to climb across balconies and onto the embassy roof, removing the Iranian flag before being detained by police.
According to authorities, officers were also injured after missiles were thrown at them, though it remains unclear whether the casualties were from the police or the protesters themselves. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed the arrest of the individual who removed the flag on suspicion of criminal damage, trespassing on diplomatic property, and assaulting police.
Additionally, a “number” of other protesters were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, and a Section 35 dispersal order was imposed outside the embassy to quell the ongoing unrest. A significant police presence remains at the scene, with additional officers deployed to prevent further disturbances.
The protest comes amid widespread anti-government demonstrations in Iran, where more than 2,600 protesters have been killed, according to a US-based human rights group. Earlier this week, the Iranian ambassador in London was summoned to the Foreign Office after the killings of protesters in Iran.
Last Saturday, a similar incident occurred outside the embassy, where a protester also climbed onto the building’s balcony and appeared to tear down the Iranian flag. Two people were arrested during that previous protest.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed that they were called to the junction of Exhibition Road and Kensington Road at around 8:45 pm GMT, where four people were taken to the hospital, and two others were treated at the scene.
The ongoing tensions and clashes outside the Iranian embassy in London reflect the broader global outrage and solidarity with the protesters in Iran, who have been risking their lives to demand change and accountability from the government.
