Violent disorder erupted outside the Iranian Embassy in London on Friday evening, resulting in multiple arrests and four people being taken to hospital. The Metropolitan Police confirmed officers were injured after missiles were thrown at them during the anti-regime demonstration.
Chaos in South Kensington
The London Ambulance Service said it was alerted to the incident in South Kensington at 8.45pm on Friday, January 16, 2026. Footage circulating on social media showed a chaotic scene, with police officers wrestling a protester to the ground on a grassy verge and other demonstrators being detained.
In a dramatic escalation, one individual climbed the embassy building, traversed several balconies, and reached the roof to remove the Iranian flag. This act mirrored a similar incident from the previous week where the flag was also torn down.
Police Response and Arrests
The Metropolitan Police issued a statement detailing the events. "A protester illegally accessed private property and climbed across multiple balconies onto the roof of the Embassy and removed a flag," a spokesperson said. "He has since been arrested by officers on suspicion of criminal damage, trespass on diplomatic property and assaulting police."
Due to the ongoing disorder, which included objects being thrown at officers, police imposed a Section 35 dispersal order. The force later confirmed that "a number of people have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder" and that several officers sustained injuries during the clashes.
Background of Unrest
The protest in London is connected to a wider wave of dissent within Iran itself. For weeks, the country has been rocked by anti-regime protests sparked by rampant inflation and a severe cost-of-living crisis.
International tensions have also been high. Former US President Donald Trump recently threatened Iran with potential military action as the death toll rose from the regime's crackdown on domestic demonstrators. However, reports indicated that protests in Tehran and other Iranian cities had subsided in the days leading up to the London embassy clash.
The incident underscores how international geopolitical tensions can manifest in protests on the streets of the UK capital, challenging police resources and diplomatic protocols.
