Armed Attacker Assaults Iran’s Consular Services Office in Washington
Reports indicate that an armed individual entered the Consular Services Office of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington on the morning of Wednesday, April 25th, with the intention to cause disruption and was subsequently arrested by police.
The state news agency IRNA reported, citing eyewitnesses, that the attacker entered the building around 10:30 a.m. local time and assaulted one of the staff members while chanting slogans against the Islamic Republic. The attacked individual was transferred to the hospital.
According to the report, following the incident, Iran’s Consular Services Office was closed and police arrived at the office to conduct an investigation. The surrounding streets were also blocked off.
Iran’s Consular Services Office in Washington provides only consular services related to visas and passports.
The local news section of the Washington Post also reported on its website about “an attack by an assailant on a consular office in northwest Washington” but did not name Iran’s Consular Services Office.
In the Washington Post report, citing a statement from the Secret Service, it stated that upon receiving news of the attack at 10:30 a.m. local time, they responded quickly and proceeded to the scene.
The Secret Service stated that during this attack, no shots were fired but an armed individual was arrested. The report also noted that surrounding streets were blocked for two hours.
The Washington Post reported that in addition to Iran’s Consular Services Office, the consular offices of Mexico and Pakistan are also located in the vicinity of the incident.
The newspaper contacted the Mexican Embassy to verify the news, and the embassy stated that no attack had occurred on their consular office. The Washington Post stated that relevant officials from Iran and Pakistan were not available to confirm the report.
The U.S. Secret Service stated in its statement to the Washington Post that further details about the attacker would be released in the coming hours.
Source: Radio Farda
