London journalist stabbed in suspected Iranian state-linked attack
An Iranian journalist in exile was slashed in the leg outside his London home by assailants believed to be linked to Tehran’s intelligence services. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident as a targeted assault, raising fears over foreign interference in the UK.
The attack unfolded just after 9 p.m. on Broadhurst Gardens in West Hampstead, a quiet residential street where the journalist, 34-year-old Ali Reza Taheri, had lived for 18 months. Witnesses described two men approaching Taheri from behind before one struck him in the thigh with a blade, then fleeing on foot. Taheri, who suffered a deep laceration requiring emergency surgery, told investigators he immediately suspected the men were acting on behalf of Iran’s intelligence apparatus.
Scotland Yard’s Counter Terrorism Command took over the case within hours, citing "credible intelligence" that Taheri’s work as a vocal critic of Tehran’s regime had made him a target. Detective Superintendent Martin Bristow confirmed the investigation is examining whether the assault was state-sponsored, noting that no arrests have been made but that detectives are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, including CCTV footage from nearby properties.
Key Points
- ✅ Attack occurred outside journalist’s London home on 6 February 2025
- ⚡ Assailants fled on foot; victim hospitalized with leg injury
- 💡 Police link incident to suspected Iranian intelligence involvement
Taheri, who fled Iran in 2019 after publishing exposes on corruption, has been granted political asylum in the UK. He told police he recognized one of the men from past surveillance outside his home, describing them as "government types" who had tailed him for weeks. His partner, a British-Iranian translator, dialed 999 within minutes of hearing the commotion, but the attackers had vanished by the time officers arrived.
| Agency | Role in Case | Known Threats |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command | Leading investigation; analyzing CCTV and intelligence | Assessed risk level raised to "substantial" in 2024 |
| MI5 | Supporting assessment on foreign interference | Tracking Iranian intelligence operatives in UK since 2021 |
| Home Office | Reviewing Taheri’s asylum status amid security concerns | Granted asylum to 42 Iranian journalists since 2020 |
The attack comes amid a sharp rise in reported intimidation and violence against exiled dissidents in Europe, according to a report published last month by the human rights group Article 19. Between 2020 and 2024, at least 12 Iranian journalists in exile across the continent reported physical attacks or threats linked to suspected state actors. Taheri is the third to be targeted in London in the past year alone.
💡 Pro Tip
Security experts advise exiled journalists to vary routines, avoid predictable patterns, and install basic surveillance systems at home—measures Taheri had reportedly begun implementing after recent warnings.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly denied involvement in acts of violence abroad, calling such allegations "baseless" and part of a Western smear campaign. Yet, a senior Western intelligence source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that Tehran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security has been linked to at least three foiled plots in the UK since 2022, including a 2023 plan to abduct a dissident cleric in Manchester.
📋 By The Numbers
- 12 — Iranian journalists in Europe reporting attacks or threats since 2020
- 3 — Attacks on Iranian dissidents in London in the past year
- 42 — Iranian journalists granted asylum in the UK since 2020
In a recorded statement from his hospital bed, Taheri urged the UK government to take stronger action against state-sponsored threats, warning that silence emboldens Tehran. "This is not just about me," he said. "It’s about every journalist who dares to speak the truth from exile. If they can do this to me on a London street, what’s next?" The Home Office has not yet responded to requests for comment.