LONDON: Seven men were arrested on suspicion of assault following a violent altercation outside Iran’s embassy in west London on Friday, which left two individuals injured, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The incident prompted authorities to impose a ban on protests in the area. Police confirmed the arrests were made on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. Two people were treated at the scene and later transported to hospital; their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
The confrontation is believed to have occurred among members of a protest group that has been demonstrating outside the embassy since Sunday. Protesters, who oppose Iran’s clerical regime, have displayed flags associated with the country’s former monarchy and Israeli flags—symbols of their support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The monarchy was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Images showed two men receiving medical treatment on the pavement next to the protest encampment.
Following the altercation, an additional individual was arrested for violating the police ban on demonstrations outside the embassy.
Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office announced on Friday that it had temporarily withdrawn diplomatic staff from Iran due to escalating regional tensions, particularly amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
“Due to the current security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw our UK staff from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.
The withdrawal comes as Western governments monitor the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, with the United States still weighing its response to the escalating conflict.
