Four hospitalised as London protest outside Iranian embassy turns violent

Four people were taken to hospital and multiple arrests were made after a protest outside the Iranian embassy in London escalated on Friday night, the Metropolitan Police said.

The demonstration, part of ongoing protests against the Iranian government, saw a tense confrontation between protesters and police, with officers sustaining injuries after objects were thrown at them. It remains unclear whether those taken to hospital were police officers or protesters.

Police said the incident escalated when one protester climbed balconies to reach the embassy roof and removed a flag before being detained. The man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, trespass on diplomatic property, and assaulting an officer.

Several others were also arrested on suspicion of violent disorder as officers moved in to restore order. A dispersal order was imposed, allowing police to require people to leave the area.

The London Ambulance Service confirmed it responded to the incident shortly before 9pm, taking four people to hospital and treating two others at the scene.

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The demonstrations outside the embassy have continued amid widespread anti-government protests in Iran. A US-based human rights organisation says more than 2,600 protesters have been killed in Iran since the unrest began.

The incident comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between the UK and Iran. The UK government recently summoned Iran’s ambassador over the reported killings of protesters, a move that has intensified scrutiny of the Iranian government’s actions.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were injured during the protest, which highlights the increasingly volatile nature of the demonstrations outside the embassy. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area as investigations continue and security remains heightened.

The situation underscores the global reach of Iran’s domestic crisis, with demonstrations continuing to draw international attention and prompting diplomatic responses from governments around the world.