Iranian journalist stabbed in London, UK counter-terrorism unit probes incident

 
LONDON: Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati was brutally stabbed multiple times by a group of unknown assailants outside his residence.

According to reports, the attack left the journalist hospitalised. However, hospital staff pronounced him “in stable condition”.

Zeraati is a television host for London-based Iranian news organisation “Iran International”.

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Zeraati hosts “The Last Word”, a programme on Iran International that critically analyses the Iranian government and covers various geopolitical issues, including the ongoing war in Gaza.

London’s Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the incident, with its specialist counter-terrorism unit taking charge of the investigation.

The Head of the London Metropolitan Police’s Counter-Terrorism Command Unit stated that the investigation was in its early stages. He said that the authorities were “keeping an open mind” regarding the motive behind the attack.

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As of now, authorities have not uncovered any conclusive evidence linking the incident to a specific group or organisation.

This marks another incident in a series of targeted attacks against journalists affiliated with Iran International. In 2022, two British-Iranian journalists associated with the channel were alerted by law enforcement regarding potential threats to their safety.

The Iranian government has also designated the news channel as a “terrorist organisation”.