Iranian journalist describes London stabbing by 'men working for Iran'

Iranian journalist describes London stabbing by 'men working for Iran'Just nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDaniel SandfordUK correspondent, Woolwich Crown CourtJulia QuenzlerPouria Zeraati works for a Persian-language opposition television station in LondonAn Iranian journalist based in London has described how he was stabbed in the thigh in a "violent" and "very frightening" attack outside his London home by men accused of working for Iran.Pouria Zeraati - a journalist and presenter at Iran International, a Persian language TV channel which is not supportive of the Iranian government - told a court he used a builder's utility belt to stop the bleeding.Two Romanian men are on trial at Woolwich Crown Court accused of the knife attack on 29 March 2024.George Stana, 25 and Nandito Badea, 21 have both denied charges of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and unlawful wounding.The prosecution allege Stana and Badea flew in from Romania to carry out the attack as paid proxies working for the Iranian state.Giving evidence on Tuesday, Zeraati described going to his car which was parked near his home in Wimbledon when a man approached him to ask for "£3 change".He told the court that he was then "grabbed very firmly by a second person" in a way which meant he could not move his arms.Then, Zeraati said, "the first person took out a knife from his pocket". "After that, the only thing I was focused on was the knife.""He started stabbing the back of my right thigh very quickly. All the time, he was looking me in the eye."He said the men then ran away "very fast" in the direction of Wimbledon Common."I noticed nothing had been stolen," Zeraati added."At the moment it clicked… it is not a robbery."I realised this might relate to the threats I had been receiving."Zeraati said that when he realised he was bleeding heavily he called 999, and a nea...