The Iranian TV journalist who was stabbed last weekend in London is already back live on air, saying attempts to silence him are not going to work.
Pouria Zeraati, a presenter for Iran International TV which broadcasts out of London, was stabbed outside his home in the capital last Friday, and hospitalized with injuries to his leg. The Times newspaper reports that, within hours of the attack, three men identified as suspects departed the country on a flight out of Heathrow Airport, according to counterterrorism police. Tehran officials swiftly denied any connection to the incident.
Zeraati returned to screen on Friday, struggling to walk but otherwise healthy. He has given an interview to The Sunday Times newspaper, revealing he has previously received threats but will not be intimidated into silence:
“It’s not about me. It’s about freedom of speech and informing people that the flow of information cannot be stopped in the 21st century…
“The fact that I’m worried is different to being scared. I’m not scared. Regardless of who is behind this, if the message is to warn me to stop what I’m doing, it’s not going to work.”
Because the men could have killed Zeraati with the knife they instead used only on his leg, the attack is being interpreted as a “warning shot” to him and critics of the Iranian state.
The presenter told The Sunday Times: “I checked my wallet, my mobile phone, my AirPods, my watch … The moment I noticed they didn’t take anything, it clicked that something has happened regarding my job.”
Zeraati presents a weekly talk show, The Last Word, on Iran International, a UK-based, Farsi-language channel that Tehran has designated a terrorist organisation.
The Times reports that the broadcaster’s staff have been warned by UK police of ongoing threats and security has been stepped up for all staff, including Zeraati and his wife, who are now staying at a safe house. Detectives working on the case have yet to confirm a motive for the attack.
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