Police at the scene in Cricklewood
(Picture: Hossein Abedini)An Iranian resistance group is claiming regime supporters launched a molotov cocktail and other firebombs at their north London headquarters.
Counter terror police are investigating claims after a fire broke out at the offices where resistance groups have been calling for Iran’s clerical regime to step down in Temple Road, Cricklewood.
Neighbours reported spotting a man throwing a firebomb which destroyed a bin room before fleeing the scene at 1.50am on Monday.
The fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported but Iranian resistance groups are claiming that supporters of the Tehran regime are behind the alleged attack.
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran’s centre supports families of political prisoners or Iranians fleeing the regime to the UK. It has been closed since the fire.
در ادامه تهدیدها و اقدامات تروریستی رژیم جمهوری اسلامی علیه مخالفان خود در خارج از ایران، دوشنبه 14 آذر، دفتر یکی از هواداران سازمان مجاهدین خلق ايران در منطقه كريكلوود در شمال غرب لندن با پرتاب کوکتل مولوتوف و مواد آتشزا هدف حمله قرار گرفت. pic.twitter.com/bPTjEcX559
— العربیه فارسی (@AlArabiya_Fa) December 5, 2022
In a statement, the Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said: “The clerical regime’s terrorists and operatives used Molotov cocktails and firebombs to attack one of the offices of the supporters of the PMOI in Cricklewood, northwest London.
“One of the neighbours, who had come to the street with the sound of the explosion, witnessed one of the attackers, who had thrown a Molotov cocktail at the building, running away.”
The group added: “Faced with public rage and disgust and unable to contain the popular uprising, the inhuman clerical regime has resorted to terrorist actions abroad in conjunction with suppression and killings inside the country.
“The Iranian Resistance calls on the UK government and the police to identify the perpetrators of this terrorist act.”
The Metropolitan Police have denied it was a targeted terror attack but say the investigation is being supported by specialist officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
Detective Superintendent Tony Bellis, North West Command Unit, said: “We know this incident has caused concern among the local community and have liaised with local community groups as a result.
“The investigation into this incident is being led by detectives from the North West Command Unit CID and officers are keeping an open mind in relation to any potential motivation behind this incident.
“There is no current information to suggest a targeted attack at this time, and it is not being treated as terror-related. However, due to the location of the incident and the organisation based at the adjacent premises, the investigation is also being supported by specialist officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.”
Iranians have been protesting worldwide after the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police for allegedly breaking the country’s strict laws which require women to cover their hair.
Her family have said they believe she was tortured while detained in police custody.
Last month the Foreign Office has summoned the Iranian deputy ambassador over allegations that two London-based journalists have faced death threats from Tehran-backed agents over the reporting of the country’s protests.
Iran International took precautionary steps to protect its reporters after being informed by Scotland Yard that it believes there were credible threats to the journalists’ lives, the Guardian reported.
