A prominent journalist working for a Persian-language news channel based in the UK has been seriously injured in a stabbing attack outside his London home.
Attack Outside Wimbledon Home
Pouria Zeraati, a presenter for Iran International, was assaulted on Friday, 29 March, near his residence in Wimbledon, south-west London. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers were called to the scene just after 3 PM.
The attack left the 36-year-old journalist with injuries to his leg. He was treated by paramedics at the location before being taken to a hospital. Police have stated his condition is not life-threatening and he is now in a stable condition.
Police Investigation and Possible Motives
Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command have taken the lead in the investigation, a move the Met says is "standard procedure" given the victim's profile and employment. However, they have been clear that they are keeping an open mind regarding the motive.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, stated: "While we are not yet in a position to say whether or not this was a deliberate attack targeting Pouria because of his occupation as a journalist, we are investigating all possible lines of enquiry."
The police have emphasised that, at this early stage, there is no evidence to suggest any link to the Iranian regime or any other state actor. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Context and Reaction from Iran International
Iran International is a satellite news channel that is highly critical of the Iranian government and broadcasts to millions of Farsi speakers. Its operations have been under scrutiny before.
In late 2022, the Met Police warned that the channel's staff in the UK faced credible threats from Iranian intelligence. The situation was deemed so severe that the station temporarily relocated its broadcasting operations to Washington D.C. for several months.
In a statement, Iran International confirmed the attack on their journalist and expressed relief that he was recovering. The channel highlighted the ongoing risks faced by its employees but stopped short of directly attributing blame for the stabbing.
The incident has reignited concerns about the safety of journalists in the UK, particularly those reporting on sensitive international issues. Media freedom organisations are closely monitoring the police investigation.
Authorities are appealing for witnesses and any individuals with information, especially those with dashcam or doorbell footage from the area around south-west London on Friday afternoon, to come forward.
