RNA - Several Britain-based Shiite extremists affiliated to Sadeq Shirazi sect attacked the Iranian embassy premises in London Friday afternoon, while menacing the staffers with cold weapons.
Four men opened their way into the embassy premises at 16:30 local time, while threatening people on the scene with machetes and baseball bats. The London Police deployed around the embassy but took no action in the first couple of hours after the attack. Later reports said the attackers were arrested after three hours.
The slow pace of police measures against the attack enraged Tehran, and Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said Deputy Foreign Minister Abass Araqchi has informed the British Ambassador to Tehran Nicholas Hapton of "the Islamic Republic of Iran's strong protest and asked for the full protection of our country's diplomats and immediate action against the invaders by the police".
"The British ambassador to Tehran also extended his government's formal apology and said the anti-riot police have deployed on the scene and have the situation under control," added Qassemi.
Qassemi also quoted the envoy as saying that all the necessary measures have been taken to secure the Iranian diplomats and block attackers from breaking into the embassy building.
The slogans chanted by the raiders indicate that they are members of Sadeq Shirazi Shiite extremist sect, supported by London.
Iran's Ambassador to Britain Hamid Baeedinejad confirmed the reports on the embassy attack in his twitter account minutes after the attack. "A few followers of Shirazi have attacked the Islamic Republic of Iran's Embassy in London and broke the flag mast," the ambassador tweeted minutes ago, and added that the raiders are "chanting slogans against Iranian officials".
He further confirmed that the raiders were carrying "sticks and machetes", and said Police are deployed on the scene.
In a later tweet, Baeedinejad ensured that all the embassy staff are safe and no one has been hurt. He also informed that the attackers were on the balcony of the building and surrounded by the police.
The Shirazi sect that has been labeled as "British Shiism" by the Iranian Supreme Leader operates mainly from London. The sect also runs a satellite network called 'Fadak' from London and promotes Shiite extremism against Sunni Islam. The sect is also known to be the religious opposition of the Islamic Republic.
In earlier remarks, Qassemi told FNA that "we are investigating into the case and will keep in contact with the Iranian embassy in London and the British embassy in Tehran".
"The British government is duty-bound to seriously and decisively fulfill its responsibility to protect the Islamic Republic of Iran's diplomats and diplomatic centers and immediately arrest and prosecute those who have trespassed the diplomatic sanctuary," the spokesman reiterated.
Three hours after the attack, the Iranian foreign ministry declared that raiders have all been arrested by the London police.
Spokesman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said the legislature would ask the foreign ministry to launch a serious probe into the case. "The British government is responsible for the protection of the Iranian embassy in that country and should account for the attack," he said.
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