Three people, including a teenage boy, have been arrested after an ignited container was thrown at the offices of a Persian media organisation in north-west London.
The Metropolitan Police said officers on patrol were alerted to the incident in Wembley at around 8.30pm on Wednesday. The device landed in a car park where the fire it started extinguished itself, causing no injuries or damage to the building. Several nearby premises were evacuated as a precaution, though it was quickly established there was no wider risk.
Arrests After Vehicle Pursuit
Following the attack, a police pursuit involving an Armed Response Vehicle was initiated after the suspects reportedly fled in a black SUV. The vehicle later crashed on Ballards Lane in Finchley, leading to the arrests of a 16-year-old boy and two men, aged 19 and 21, on suspicion of arson endangering life. All three remain in police custody.
Counter Terrorism Police Take Lead
Despite confirming the attack is not being treated as a terrorist incident, the investigation is being led by detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing London (CTP London). This unit is also investigating two other recent arson attacks in north-west London, though the Met states that at this stage the Wembley incident is not being linked to an attempted arson at a Finchley synagogue earlier on Wednesday, nor to an attack on volunteer-led Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green in March.
The decision for counter-terrorism specialists to lead probes into incidents not officially classed as terrorism is not unprecedented. According to Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans, there has been a significant rise in investigations involving state threats. CTP London stated it is keeping an open mind regarding the motivation behind these incidents, with the similarity in their nature and locations prompting a coordinated investigative approach.
The incident occurs against a declared backdrop of increased “hostile activity on UK soil.” Since 2022, British authorities have reportedly thwarted 20 Iran-backed plots, and have previously warned of threats to journalists working for Persian-language outlets critical of Iran’s government.
Target Likely Critical Iranian Outlet
While not formally named by police, research indicates the targeted organisation is likely Kayhan London, a Persian-language online media outlet based in London. Founded in 1984, the privately-owned, secular outlet focuses on Iran and is considered anti-government by the Islamic Republic. In 2020, it was among outlets subjected to harassment by Iranian authorities, reportedly in an effort to silence independent news sources for Iranians.
Threats against similar media entities in the UK have been persistent. In November 2022, the Metropolitan Police provided protection to the offices of Iran International following credible intelligence about threats to its journalists. That channel temporarily relocated its broadcasting to Washington D.C. in early 2023 due to safety concerns. In March 2024, Iran International TV host Pouzia Zeraati was stabbed outside his London home.
The attack in Wembley took place days into a planned two-week ceasefire in the Middle East, following weeks of fighting. Separately, police confirmed they liaised with security at the Embassy of Israel in London on Wednesday regarding potential security issues, but no incident occurred there. Eight Iranian nationals were arrested in separate counter-terrorism operations on 12 April, with reports suggesting a plot targeting the Israeli embassy.
