An Iranian television presenter who was attacked outside his south west London home by thugs he believes were sent by the regime in Tehran has moved abroad saying he no longer feels safe.
Pouria Zeraati, a presenter for Persian-language news channel Iran International, was stabbed by a group of men in Wimbledon in March.
The London-based channel received repeated threats from Iran, with UK intelligence services stopping at least 15 plots to either kidnap or kill employees.
Zeraati, 36, has now left London with his wife, claiming the Iranian regime does not fear reprisals if they break the law in the UK.
Speaking from a secret location overseas Zeraati told the Guradian: “The place I live right now is a little safer.
“There have been communications between the UK police and the police here. They know about my situation and have taken extra measures to make sure I’m safe.”
Three suspects were identified by Metropolitan Police but the force said the trio fled the UK after the attack.
Mr Zeraati posted a defiant image of himself in hospital after he was ambushed.
Commander Dominic Murphy said after the attack: “We have identified three suspects who we believe left the UK within hours of the attack.
“We have established that after abandoning the vehicle, the suspects travelled to Heathrow Airport and have left the UK.”
The Met did not reveal where the men flown to.
Mr Zeraati was approached by two men in a residential street and stabbed before the pair fled in a blue Mazda 3 driven by a third suspect, the investigation reveled.
The car was found abandoned in the nearby New Malden area.
The commander added the Met was not yet able to provide further information about any motive, but Mr Zeraati's occupation and hreats towards UK-based Iranian journalists, meant the investigation continued to be led by counter-terrorism officers.
The Iranian regime has denied any involvement throughout.
