Two men arrested in connection with London stabbing of Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomes progress in the investigation into the stabbing of Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati in London earlier this year, following news that two Romanian nationals have been arrested, and are expected to be extradited to the UK to face criminal proceedings.
London’s Metropolitan Police said two Romanian nationals - Nandito Badea, 19, and George Stana, 23 - had been arrested in Romania on 4 December in connection with the attack on Zeraati last March. The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised charges against both of wounding and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
It is encouraging to see evidence of progress in the police investigation into the shocking stabbing of Pouria Zeraati earlier this year. It is vital that crimes against journalists are fully investigated and prosecuted, and that the UK authorities do all they can to protect journalists at risk of transnational attacks for doing their jobs.
Zeraati - who works for Persian-language broadcaster Iran International, was attacked outside his home on 29 March, sending shockwaves through the UK’s large community of exiled Iranian journalists, many of whom have been subjected to intimidation and threats because of their reporting. Police said at the time that Zeraati’s attackers fled the country within hours.
The UK is ranked 23rd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
