The Iranian journalist attacked in London on Friday had incurred “wrath” for conducting an interview with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, according to a news website run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran.
Pouria Zeraati, who hosts a show on the anti-Iranian regime television network Iran International, was hospitalised with multiple stab wounds after two people assaulted him as he left his home in Wimbledon on Friday afternoon.
As reported by the Telegraph, the motivation for the attack was not immediately clear but UK counter-terrorism police have already foiled 15 plots linked to Iran, including against journalists critical of the regime in Tehran. The report continues:
Fars News Agency, run by the IRGC, printed a story on Saturday highlighting Mr Zeraati’s recent interview with Mr Netanyahu, whose government is at war with Hamas in Gaza.
“While even the Zionists are expressing their hatred of Netanyahu, the terrorist Iran International channel has offered its antenna to the prime minister, murderer of children in Gaza,” the Fars report said.
“This has incurred the wrath of internet users.”
Fars also shared a social media user’s tweet in reaction to the interview, saying: “After the massacre of Palestinians in the occupied Palestine, it is a sheer disgraceful act for Iran International and its vile presenter to conduct an interview with Netanyahu.”
Mr Zeraati, who hosts the ‘Last Word’ show on the Persian-language network, was heading to work in west London at around 3.15pm when he was approached by a man outside his house who tried to engage him in conversation.
Another man then came up behind him and began stabbing him with a knife. The attackers escaped in a car parked nearby where a driver was waiting for them.
Mr Zeraati is currently in a stable condition, a spokesman for Iran International said.
The attack has been described as a “wake-up call” for the West.
“Iran is actively trying to kill reporters and activists in the West and nearly succeeded in the middle of London. Next time we may not be so lucky”, said Karim Sadjadpour, of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in the US.
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