Attack on Embassy in Paris Condemned

Iran on Saturday denounced an attack by protesters on its embassy in Paris, holding the French security apparatus accountable for their failure to protect the diplomatic mission.

"The host country is responsible for ensuring the security of diplomatic sites, and it should take measures necessary to protect Iranian diplomatic missions in France," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi told reporters in Tehran on Saturday, IRNA reported.

Iran's Embassy in the French capital came under attack on Friday by supporters of Iraq-based anti-Iran separatists after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps fired missiles at their headquarters in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The strike was in response to past deadly attacks on Iranian security forces in Iran's Kordestan Province.  

Those who attacked the embassy were described by Iranian media as sympathizers of the banned Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, which is based in northern Iraq and has been involved in cross-border terrorist acts in the past.

Qasemi said they failed to enter the embassy but hurled objects at the building, causing damage.

  Ongoing Investigation

The official said French police arrived late at the scene.  "The attack by the group and delay in arrival of the police are being investigated."

The ministry spokesman said a number of attackers had been arrested and he urged French authorities to put them on trial.

This was not the first attack on an Iranian diplomatic site.

Police in Helsinki, Finland, arrested four demonstrators during a protest gathering in front of the Iran Embassy last Monday.

Citing local media and the police, the newspaper Daily Finland reported that the protestors snatched an Iranian flag from the embassy premises and set it on fire.

They hurled stones at police on duty and at a police helicopter that was being used to film the scene, the report said.  

Finnish police are going to release further information about the demonstrators' violent behavior.

Earlier this month, angry protesters stormed and set fire to the Iranian consulate in Basra in southern Iraq and  condemned Tehran's alleged interference in their internal affairs. Iran denies meddling in other countries' domestic affairs.    

Last year a mob attacked Iran’s Embassy in London. The episode ended after a few hours and several people were arrested.