The stabbing of a journalist working for an independent Iranian media outlet in London on Friday has sparked a counterterrorism investigation, according to the Metropolitan Police. The victim, a man in his 30s, was found at an address in Wimbledon with leg injuries from a stabbing and is currently in stable condition at the hospital.
The fact that the victim is a journalist working for an Iranian media outlet based in the UK has made it a key part of the investigation, although the exact reasons for the attack have not been disclosed. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Army’s counter-terrorism command, said that detectives are pursuing various leads to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
This incident marks another example of threats directed at British journalists working for Persian-language media from Iran. London police have been investigating such threats for several years, including an Austrian national who was found guilty of spying for a group that allegedly planned an attack on the Persian-language channel Iran International last year. Additionally, stricter sanctions were implemented by the British government against Iran over alleged human rights abuses and hostile actions against its adversaries on British soil.
As a precautionary measure to reassure members of similar fields and Iranian communities, additional patrols will be conducted in both Wimbledon and other locations.
