Attackers of Iranian Journalist in London Escape UK

Three individuals connected to the stabbing of an Iranian journalist in London are believed to have fled the United Kingdom within hours of the attack, police say. 

Pouria Zeraati, 36, a presenter for Iran International TV channel, sustained a leg injury during the assault in Wimbledon on March 29. 

He has since been released from hospital.

He was stabbed on a residential street by two men who departed the scene in a vehicle driven by a third individual, as reported by the Metropolitan Police.

The vehicle was abandoned shortly after the incident and is currently being examined by forensic science experts. 

The Metropolitan Police said that following the desertion of the vehicle, the individuals traveled to London's Heathrow Airport and departed from the UK.

"As a result of a very comprehensive investigation, at pace, we have identified three suspects who we believe, left the UK within hours of the attack," said Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command

"We have established that after abandoning the vehicle, the suspects travelled to Heathrow Airport and have left the UK. We are now working with international partners to establish further details," he explained.

"I must reiterate that we are still at an early stage of our investigation, we do not know the reason why this victim was attacked and there could be a number of explanations for this. All lines of enquiry are being pursued and we are keeping an open mind on any potential motivation for the attack," he added. 

While the motive remains unclear, the reported attack comes just a few months after the revelation of a plot by the Islamic Republic to assassinate two other Iran International journalists.

In November 2022, London Police protected Iran International's offices after having received intelligence of actual threats against two of the channel's journalists in London.

In early 2023, the network was forced to temporarily cease operations in London and relocate its broadcasting studios to Washington.

The channel's operations resumed at a new London location in September of that year.

Iranian Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib said in an interview with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's website in late 2022 that those who work with Iran International TV would be "pursued" by his ministry.

"From now on, any kind of connection with this terrorist organization will be considered tantamount to entering the field of terrorism and a threat to national security," he said. 

Volant Media, Iran International's broadcaster, said in a statement at the time that two British-Iranian journalists working in Britain had received "death threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG)."

It described the threats as a "dangerous escalation" of attempts by the Islamic Republic to silence media in the face of nationwide protests.