Iran’s assassins target journalists in London
‘Lethal threats’ to staff at Farsi language news channel in UK that showed footage of demonstrations
A hit squad has been deployed to murder two British journalists working for a Farsi language television station. Counter-terror officers with the Met Police had identified “lethal threats to British citizens on British soil”, Iran International said yesterday. The channel accused the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of targeting two of its journalists as part of a “significant and dangerous escalation” of Tehran’s “state sponsored campaign” of intimidation.
AN IRANIAN hit squad in London has been deployed to murder two British journalists working for a Farsi language television station based in the UK.
Counter-terrorism officers with the Metropolitan Police had identified “lethal threats to British citizens on British soil”, the television channel Iran International said yesterday.
In a statement, the channel accused the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of targeting two of its prominent British-iranian journalists as part of a “significant and dangerous escalation” of Tehran’s “state sponsored campaign” of intimidation.
The journalists have not been identified for security reasons. It is understood they have now been given round-the-clock protection.
Scotland Yard has declined to comment on counter-terrorism operations but investigations were escalated after a “hostile Iranian surveillance team” was spotted last week outside the homes and offices of the television channel’s senior journalists.
Counter-terrorism police then notified the journalists of “the credible threats to life”.
Iran has long been recognised as a hostile state “actor” by counter-terrorism police and intelligence agencies, capable of assassination attempts and cyber attacks in the UK.
In 2015, a terrorist cell linked to Iranian interests was caught stockpiling explosive materials in a secret bomb factory that was uncovered by MI5 and the Metropolitan Police.
The danger posed by Iran was further emphasised following the stabbing of the British author Salman Rushdie in New York in the summer, years after the Iranian regime issued a fatwa against him.
Tensions have been heightened by protests on Iranian streets following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been arrested by the religious morality police after refusing to wear a hijab in public.
Iran International said the regime’s rhetoric aimed against the channel had been ratcheted up after the protest movement began. Last month, the Islamic Republic warned that Iran International would “pay the price” for carrying footage of the demonstrations. A hardliner cleric had also called on the Iranian government to “use capabilities in the international arena” to tackle the channel, which has Saudi funding.
The television station said: “Iran International, the independent Ukbased Farsi-language news channel, is shocked and deeply concerned by the credible threats to life its journalists have received from the IRGC.
“Two of our British-iranian journalists have, in recent days, been notified of an increase in the threats to them.
“The Metropolitan Police have now formally notified both journalists that these threats represent an imminent, credible and significant risk to their lives and those of their families. Other members of our staff have also been informed directly by the Metropolitan Police of separate threats.”
The channel said that its journalists were subjected to abuse routinely on social media but “these threats to life… mark a significant and dangerous escalation of a state-sponsored campaign to intimidate Iranian journalists working abroad”.
The channel added: “The Islamic Republic of Iran, and specifically the IRGC, cannot be allowed to export their pernicious media crackdown to the UK. The IRGC cannot be allowed to act abroad with impunity.
“We hope that the UK Government, international governments and other organisations will join us in condemning these horrific threats and continue to highlight the importance of media freedom. We would like to thank the Metropolitan Police for their considerable efforts in keeping journalists safe.”
The Met Police said: “We do not comment on matters of protective security in relation to any specific individuals.
“We would advise anyone with concerns over their safety to contact police so that officers can assess the situation and offer any safety and security advice as and where necessary.”
‘The Islamic Republic of Iran cannot be allowed to export their pernicious media crackdown to the UK’