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A journalist in London was repeatedly stabbed outside his home this week. The victim is a news anchor for a UK-based Iranian TV channel. The channel had reportedly reported extensively on anti-government protests in Iran and has been the target of threats in the past. CBC’s Dominic Fidus has the latest.
Iranian TV host stabbed
Pouya Zarati is a host for Iran International, an Iranian TV news channel based in London. He was reportedly attacked by a group of men as he left his home yesterday. The police have since confirmed that officers were called to the address in Wimbledon, Southwest London, just before 3:00 p.m. Upon arriving, they found a man in his 30s who had sustained a leg injury. It’s not believed to be life-threatening. Zarati is in the hospital recovering, and his condition is said to be stable. However, this was a nasty attack nonetheless.
Due to Zarati’s background as a journalist and his employer, the attack has attracted attention at the highest levels. Senior MP Alysia Kerns, the chairwoman of the influential Foreign Affairs Select Committee, described the attack as deeply upsetting.
Iran International was established in 2017 and broadcasts from London, targeting Iranian viewers. It’s known to be critical of the regime in Iran. In 2022, it reported extensively on anti-government protests in the country, leading to accusations from the government in Tehran that the station was inciting riots. The government even declared it a terrorist organization. As one of the faces of Iran International, Zarati was also critical of the regime.
The exact reason for the attack is not yet known. Police say they’re keeping an open mind. However, counterterrorism officers are now leading the investigation. Police say this is not only because Zarati worked for a Persian-language media organization based in London, but also because a number of the channel’s journalists have been threatened in the past.
In the wake of this latest incident, police have increased security at several addresses linked to the channel and its staff as a precaution. Dominic Valitus, CBC News, London.
