Four police officers have been injured after violence erupted at a protest outside the Iranian embassy in London.
Missiles were thrown at officers and a number of people arrested for violent disorder outside the embassy in South Kensington, the Metropolitan Police said.
The Met confirmed additional officers had been deployed after the unrest on Friday evening and a Section 35 order was put in place to help disperse crowds.
Paramedics confirmed four people were taken to hospital after the London Ambulance Service was called to the incident at 8.45pm.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show protesters being arrested and others with injuries.
One of those arrested had climbed the building in Kensington and removed an Iranian flag.
The Met said in a post on X: “During the ongoing protest at the Iranian Embassy this evening, a protester illegally accessed private property and climbed across multiple balconies onto the roof of the Embassy and removed a flag.
“He has since been arrested by officers on suspicion of criminal damage, trespass on diplomatic property and assaulting police. A section 35 order has been imposed as a result of ongoing disorder, including missiles being thrown at officers. Several officers have suffered injuries.”
In a statement released on Saturday a Met spokesperson added: An effort was made by a group of protestors to prevent his lawful arrest, and dispersal tactics were used by officers to ensure the safety of those concerned and prevent further disorder.
“Officers were able to arrest the man on suspicion of criminal damage, trespass on diplomatic property and assaulting police. He remains in police custody.
“A further 13 arrests were made for several offences, including violent disorder, assault of an emergency worker, criminal damage and trespass on diplomatic premises.
“Four officers sustained minor injured during the incident.”
The protest was taking place after repression which has left several thousand people dead appeared to have succeeded in stifling demonstrations in Iran, which began on December 28 over the country’s ailing economy and morphed into protests directly challenging the country’s theocracy.
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There have been no signs of protests for days in Tehran, where shopping and street life have returned to outward normality, although a week-old internet blackout continued.
Authorities have not reported any unrest elsewhere in the country.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency on Friday put the death toll at 3,090.
The number, which exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades and recalls the chaos surrounding the 1979 revolution, continues to rise.
Media has been unable to independently confirm the toll. Iran’s government has not provided casualty figures.
Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urged the United States to make good on its pledge to intervene, calling President Donald Trump “a man of his word”.
A sermon by Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, carried by Iranian state radio, sparked chants from those gathered for prayers, including “armed hypocrites should be put to death”.
Executions, as well as the killing of peaceful protesters, had been two of the red lines laid down by Trump for possible military action against Iran.
Mr Khatami, appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a member of both the country’s Assembly of Experts and Guardian Council, described the protesters at the time as the “butlers” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “Trump’s soldiers”.
Days after Trump pledged “help is on its way” for the protesters, both the demonstrations and the prospect of imminent US retaliation appeared to have receded.
Matt Watts
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