Britain Reinforces Security Measures Following ‘Iranian Threats’

Iran

November 20th, 7:15am

London - Asharq Al-Awsat

A photo published by "Iran International" channel on its official website yesterday.

The British police deployed armed reinforcements outside the Iran International television studios in London after two of its journalists were threatened by Tehran. Police on Sunday confirmed that its officers “are working in response to potential threats projected from Iran against a number of UK-based individuals. Iran's intelligence services made at least ten attempts to kidnap or kill UK-based individuals regarded by Tehran as a threat, the head of Britain's domestic spy agency (MI5) said. The Times reported that Scotland Yard had placed armed response vehicles outside an independent Iranian television channel after Tehran threatened its journalists. Two journalists at Iran International, a UK-based, Persian-language broadcaster, were warned by police of a “credible threat” to their lives from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps last week. Tehran accused Western countries including the UK of stoking the protests which ignited on Sept. 17. In the past weeks, Iran arrested dozens of journalists and imposed restrictions on covering the protests, and on the internet and social media. Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib warned the British government that it will have to pay the price for its measures aimed at creating insecurity in Iran. Ken McCallum, Director General of the Security Service known as MI5, said on Wednesday while Tehran was using violence to silence critics at home, its "aggressive intelligence services" were also projecting a threat to Britain directly. Last week, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly summoned Iran's top diplomat in London over alleged threats by Tehran's security forces to UK-based journalists. Moreover, Canada's Security Intelligence Agency said it is investigating credible death threats against people in Canada by Iran, days after Britain leveled similar accusations against the Iranian regime. CSIS is also aware that Iran is monitoring and intimidating people in Canada, including members of the Iranian diaspora, Eric Balsam, spokesman for CSIS said, in order to "silence those who speak out publicly against" the regime. No details of the investigation were given, but Balsam said the agency is working with international partners.

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