LONDON Violent street protests broke out in front of the Iranian embassy in London on Sunday as police were thrown with stones and five protesters were arrested.
Large crowds flocked all week in front of the Knightsbridge estate to protest the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, in the custody of Iranian police. She was arrested by the Iranian moral police for allegedly breaking headscarves and died on September 16.
The London Metropolitan Police said a “substantial group” of the large crowd “was about to cause a commotion” and confirmed that reinforcements had been called in as protesters attempted to break through police lines and storm the embassy.
Many policemen were injured in the skirmishes, though none were seriously, and some arrests were made for violent riots.
The London street protest takes place at a time of growing hostility between Britain and Iran over the death of Amini in custody. Iranian police said she died of a heart attack and was not mistreated, but her family questioned it.
The Iranian Foreign Office’s website said it called on Saturday by Simon Shercliff, Britain’s ambassador to Iran, and protested against the running of critical media in Persian. The ministry says that at the top of its programs, the media triggered riots and the spread of riots in Iran. Protests against Amini’s death spread to at least 46 cities, towns and villages in Iran.
Iran said it considers reports by news agencies to be interfering in Iran’s internal affairs and is working against Iran’s sovereignty.
The beefed-up police operation near the Iranian Embassy in London’s Princes Gate will remain in place.
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