Two injured and rushed to hospital as ‘pro and anti-regime protesters’ clash in upmarket Knightsbridge
SIX men have been arrested after a violent altercation outside the Iranian Embassy in London left two people injured and requiring hospital treatment.
Police rushed to the diplomatic building on Princes Gate in South Kensington just before 10am today following reports of an assault during what witnesses described as a clash between opposing protest groups.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions over the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, with sources suggesting the violence erupted between pro and anti-Iranian regime demonstrators.
VICTIMS RUSHED TO HOSPITAL
Two men were treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital, with one victim rushed to a major trauma centre.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “At 09.53am on Friday, June 20, officers responded to reports of an altercation in Princes Gate, SW1.
Six men have been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm – they remain in police custody.
Two men were treated for injuries at the scene and have been taken to hospital for further treatment by the London Ambulance Service.
MAJOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE
The London Ambulance Service deployed a major response to the incident, sending multiple resources including ambulance crews, paramedics in fast response cars and their Tactical Response Unit.
We were called at 9.56am today (June 20) to reports of an assault in Princes Gate, SW7,” an LAS spokesman confirmed.
Police have cordoned off the area around the embassy while initial investigations take place, with officers remaining at the scene.
PROTEST BAN IMPOSED
In a sign of the seriousness of the incident, Metropolitan Police have imposed emergency conditions to stop protesters from gathering in the area until 1pm on Sunday.
The restriction comes as tensions continue to rise over the Middle East conflict, with London seeing regular demonstrations from both supporters and opponents of the Iranian regime.
DIPLOMATIC QUARTER VIOLENCE
While police have not officially linked the arrests to the Iranian Embassy, they confirmed the incident took place on Princes Gate – the same street where the embassy is located.
The upmarket street in Knightsbridge is home to numerous embassies and has seen diplomatic tensions play out before, most famously during the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege when SAS forces stormed the building to rescue hostages.
HISTORY OF TENSIONS
The Iranian Embassy has long been a flashpoint for protests in London, with regular demonstrations by opposition groups calling for regime change in Tehran.
Recent months have seen increased activity outside the building as the Israel-Iran conflict has escalated, with both pro-regime supporters and Iranian opposition groups staging rival demonstrations.
Today’s violence represents a significant escalation in tensions on London’s streets.
ONGOING INVESTIGATION
All six arrested men remain in police custody as detectives investigate what sparked the violent confrontation.
The Metropolitan Police have not released the ages or identities of those arrested, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Officers are expected to review CCTV footage from the heavily monitored diplomatic area to piece together exactly what happened during the morning clash.
The injuries to the two victims are not believed to be life-threatening, according to police sources.
AREA REMAINS CORDONED OFF
The usually quiet diplomatic quarter remained sealed off this afternoon as forensic teams gathered evidence from the scene.
Princes Gate, one of London’s most exclusive addresses, was blocked to traffic as investigators worked to establish the full circumstances of the assault.
The incident has raised questions about security around diplomatic buildings in the capital, particularly those representing nations involved in current international conflicts.
Scotland Yard has urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward as their investigation continues.
