Iran s embassy in London attacked by men clad in black: Iranian officials

*TEHRAN – Spokesman for the Iranian Administration Mohammad Baqer Nobakhtdeplored the British police’s belated response to an attack on the IslamicRepublic’s embassy in London and said Tehran would definitely react firmlyto the incident.*

Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Saturday, Nobakht said based on thereports received so far, the UK police took action several hours after theattack, Tasnim has reported.

“This is while embassies are places that should be protected by policebased on international rules…,” he added.

“It is already clear that the international rules have not been observed inthis case and the Islamic Republic would definitely show a firm reaction tothe incident,” the spokesman said.

In the attack on Friday, four men dressed in black climbed on to afirst-floor balcony of the building, took down the Iranian flag, and wavedflags of their radical cult in an apparent protest against the IslamicRepublic.

No one was hurt during the incident and the trespassers were arrested whenthey came down after around three hours. The four are detained for causingcriminal damage and being unlawfully on diplomatic premises, a spokeswomanfor London’s Metropolitan Police said.

“Immediately after the incident was reported, Dr. Araqchi, the (Iranian)deputy foreign minister for political affairs, expressed the IslamicRepublic of Iran’s strong protest to the British ambassador to Tehran anddemanded that the UK police fully protect our diplomats in London andimmediately deal with the assailants,” the Foreign Ministry’s websitequoted Spokesman Bahram Qassemi as saying.

According to the spokesperson, the British ambassador to Tehran hasextended the British government’s official apology.

Qassemi quoted the British envoy as saying that the UK riot police arepresent at the scene and have the situation under control.

He finally called for the prosecution and punishment of those behind theraid.

Also, Iran’s ambassador to Britain, Hamid Baeidnejad, tweeted that theassailants were “advocates of the Shirazi cult”. He said all staff at theembassy were safe.