Iran Latest: Basij Storm British Embassy II

Claimed video of the Basij student rally and the start of the assault on the British Embassy

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1735 GMT: The embassy building is now emptied of protesters and security forces are in control of the situation, stationed inside and around the two buildings. As Fars News reports that all protesters have left, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs just released a statement expressing ‘disappointment’ over what what it called ‘the unacceptable actions of a few protesters’ who gathered in front of the UK Embassy even though the security forces tried to stop them. The statement calls for security agencies to take actions against the perpetrators of these actions and reaffirms Iran’s commitment to international treaties. 

1705 GMT: The state-run Fars News again claims that all UK Embassy employees have been escorted out and are now safe. At the same time, the story skillfully diverts the blame from the government and portrays it as an independent action taken by angry student protesters. This is contrast to the ‘students’ chanting slogans that clearly indicated they were members of the paramilitary Basij force. Meanwhile Khabar Online is reporting protesters have entered the embassy for a third time after being repulsed by police twice. At the same time, Tehran province’s governor and the head of the province’s security council Morteza Tamaddon has arrived in front of the embassy to assess the situation.

UPDATE 1650 GMT: The British Foreign Office has this as their latest in reaction to the attack:

An FCO spokesperson said:

“Senior officials have spoken to the Iranian charge in London to urge the Iranian authorities to act with utmost urgency to ensure the situation is brought under control and to protect our diplomatic compound, as they are obliged to do under international law.

“This is a fluid situation and details are still emerging.

“We have updated our travel advice to reflect today’s incident and now advise British nationals in Iran to stay indoors, keep a low profile and await further advice.”

New photos of Bssij students smashing windows and setting a car on fire inside the UK Embassy have emerged. Here they are:

UPDATE 1550 GMT: Looks like we may have some clarity on the earlier story of six employees held “hostage” — Fars reports that these were the people escorted from the Embassy compound by diplomatic police. Alef is also confirming the exit of all British Embassy employees from the building.

UPDATE 1525 GMT: The latest report from Mehr, posted an hour ago:

200 students are still holed up inside the embassy. After the students outside the embassy were dispersed, some of them have returned and more are coming. The students inside are asking for the ones outside to storm in and join them while the police are separating the two.

The police have warned the protesters outside that if they do not disperse, they won’t let the ones that are stuck inside out so the students outside the embassy are now chanting, “Basiji Brothers Must be Freed!”

Some students inside the Embassy have reportedly formed a “Conqueror Committee”, vowing to remain.

UPDATE 1515 GMT: Latest information….

Iranian news media reports that the assault on the British Embassy began at about 2 p.m. (1130 GMT) — numbers range up to 1000, as reported by Raja News. with 200 still inside the compound.

The crowd quickly managed to enter the building. Some demonstrators took down the Union Jack, the British flag, and burnt it outside. Others also managed to enter the embassy’s secondary building in Baghe Qalhak.

Raja News is claiming that students have held six British citizens hostage inside the second building. Diplomatic police escorted several employees out of the embassy.

At present, security forces have parked a bus outside the embassy building and are telling students outside the embassy gates to disperse or they will not let the students leave who are still inside. Raja Newsalso states that police used tear gas to force the students that are inside the Baghe Qalhak building out.

There is still much confusion among the Iranian media over the story. Fars pulled a picture of the Basij inside the university, while Mehr took down the report of British “hostages” minutes after posting it.

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ORIGINAL REPORT

More than 30 students, many of them from the Basij militia, protesting in front of the British Embassy,have attacked  the building, seizing and tearing up documents, dismantling a satellite dish, andpulling down the British flag. More protesters entered as police tried to clear the site.

The students chanted, “Death to America”, “Death to Britain”, “Death to Israel”, “The embassy of Britain should be taken over!”, “Allahu Akbar”, and “Students will die before accepting humiliation.” They replaced the Union Jack with a banner in the name of Imam Hussein.

There was no immediate word on any casualties or the number of Embassy employees inside the building, which had closed for business before the attack. More protesters poured into the compound as police tried to clear the site, eventually leaving the premises just after 4:30 p.m. (1300 GMT), as firemen entered to put out any blazes.

State TV reported that another group of  students gathered at the gate of British ambassador’s residence in northern Tehran.

The British Foreign Office has put out the statement:

We are outraged by this. It is utterly unacceptable and we condemn it.

Under international law , including the Vienna Convention, the Iranian Government have a clear duty to protect diplomats and Embassies in their country and expect them to act urgently to bring the situation under control and ensure the safety of our staff and security of our property.

The demonstration was part of an organised show of force by the regime, coming two days after Parliament had passed a bill for the downgrading of relations with London, effectively demanding the expulsion of the British Ambassador. Iranian media have been comparing the Embassy to the “Nest of Spies”, the US Embassy which was taken over by students in 1979.

Demonstrators also carried photographs of nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari, assassinated a year ago today in an attack blamed on foreign intelligence services.

After getting into the building, protesters waived trophies from a framed picture of Queen Elizabeth to a large poster of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in the movie Pulp Fiction.