2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran
| 2011 attack on the British Embassy in Tehran | |||
|---|---|---|---|
   The attack site
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| Date | 29 November 2011 | ||
| Location |
Jomhouri, Tehran, Iran 35°41′47″N 51°25′09″E / 35.69639°N 51.41917°E |
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| Methods | Demonstrations, rioting, online activism, infiltration | ||
| Number | |||
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| Casualties | |||
| Injuries | ~20 Iranian protesters ~3 British officials |
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| Arrested | 12 Iranian protesters | ||
The 2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran was a mob action on 29 November 2011 by a crowd of Iranian protesters who stormed the embassy and another British diplomatic compound in Tehran, Iran, ransacking offices and stealing documents. One small building was set on fire during the incident and several people were injured. Iranian opposition student groups condemned the storming of the embassy, Iranian officials also condemned the violence.
The British government had imposed numerous sanctions on Iran regarding concerns over the nature of Iran's nuclear program. Following the release of a November 2011 International Atomic Energy Agency report that documented weaponisation elements of Iran's nuclear activities, the British government banned all financial institutions in the United Kingdom doing business with their counterparts in Iran, including Iran's central bank. Iran responded by approving a bill to downgrade its ties with the United Kingdom, including a requirement for both countries to withdraw their respective ambassadors. This was not the first time that Iran has called for downgrading ties with the United Kingdom.
About 1,000 people gathered near the embassy to demand that the British ambassador be sent home immediately. The rally began quietly, but some participants stormed the building, breaking down the door, throwing around papers and replacing the British flag with an Iranian one. The Iranian security forces initially did not intervene as protesters entered the British Embassy. Protesters removed the mission's flag and ransacked offices. The protesters chanted, "Death to America", "Death to England" and "Death to Israel", among other slogans.
According to the British Ambassador to Iran Dominick Chilcott, protesters rampaged through the embassy building, destroying paintings and furniture, spraying graffiti, smashing windows and starting fires. Seven embassy staff were seized by protesters but were eventually escorted out by police. The protesters also stole mobile phones and computers.
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Wikipedia