E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Atta Kenare / AFP - Getty Images
Iranian protesters gather outside the British embassy as some break into it and bring down the British flag in Tehran on November 29, 2011. More than 20 Iranian protesters stormed the British embassy in Tehran, removing the mission's flag and ransacking offices.
Stringer / Reuters
EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.
Protesters enter the gate of the British embassy in Tehran November 29, 2011. Dozens of young Iranian men entered buildings inside the British embassy compound in Tehran on Tuesday, throwing rocks, petrol bombs and burning documents looted from offices, Iranian news agencies reported.
Vahid Salemi / AP
Iranian protesters break the windows of a British Embassy building, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. Dozens of hard-line Iranian students stormed the British Embassy in Tehran on Tuesday, bringing down the Union Jack flag and throwing documents from windows in scenes reminiscent of the anger against Western powers after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The mob moved into the diplomatic compound two days after Iran's parliament approved a bill that reduces diplomatic relations with Britain following London's support of recently upgraded Western sanctions on Tehran over its disputed nuclear program.
Reuters
EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.
Protesters walk in the British embassy compound as an embassy car burns in Tehran on Nov. 29, 2011.
Reuters
EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.
A protester walks with a poster from the British embassy in Tehran Nov. 29, 2011. Dozens of young Iranian men entered buildings inside the British embassy compound in Tehran on Tuesday, throwing rocks, petrol bombs and burning documents looted from offices, Iranian news agencies reported.
FarsNews via Getty Images
Protesters carry the royal coat of arms after breaking in to the British Embassy during an anti-British demonstration in the Iranian capital on Nov. 29, 2011 in Tehran, Iran. Relations between the two countries have soured further over recent weeks, with the UK Treasury imposing sanctions on Iranian banks, accusing them of supporting the country's nuclear program. The Iranian authorities insist that its nuclear plans are for peaceful purposes only and parliament has voted to downgrade diplomatic relations with the UK.
from NBC News services:
TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian protesters stormed the British Embassy compound in Tehran on Tuesday, smashing windows and burning the British flag during a rally to protest against sanctions imposed by Britain, live Iranian television showed.
Protesters threw molotov cocktails and one waved a framed picture of Queen Elizabeth apparently found inside the compound, the state TV showed.
An NBC News cameraman at the scene reported that the protesters tore down the British flag and replaced it with the Iranian flag.
The Associated Press reported that the protesters, numbering in the dozens, were hardline students and that they clashed with riot police.
For more on his developing story click here.
Protesters in Iran have stormed the British Embassy taking classified documents and breaking windows. The Morning Joe team has the latest developments.
Leave a Comment:
Looks to me like the Iranian government's downgrade of relations with the UK is being used as an excuse by common thieves to plunder the British embassy. They even smile as they ransack the place, with the local police looking on in apparent amusement.
These are not common thieves, these are members of his guard. 80% of the people in Iran would love to be free from this dictator and live like we do in the west with a democracy.
Simply proves what the world already knows, that Iran and other Muslim nations hold no regard or respect for international law or anyone who is not muslim. These are lawless, tribal people who only believe what their perverted religon and insane leaders tell them to believe. They obvioulsy have no ability to think for themselves and therefore they deserve what they get.
Once they have "the bomb" the west should eliminate their "leadership" once and for all.
B.S.
notice how all the people here are Men and come come from the less educated sect that support the government a majority of Iranians dislike the goverment and are friendly to the west yet they dislike how the west does not recognize them or shale i say (us) open your mind loss your ignorance
I see a bunch of well dressed men Bijan, who are you defending and why? Also, please tell everyone who you are calling ignorant. (hint) use spell check next time you call someone else ignorant
Britain should've see this coming. You can't call for sanctions against a country where you have an embassy and not expect blowback. Stop following Israel's attempts to get the west to fight a war with Iran for her. Let the Israelis fight their own battles since they like to kill Muslims so much.
It is muslims who are killing Jews and everyone else in case you haven't noticed. The Israelis have always fought their own battles, thank you. And if you think that the regime in Tehran isn't a threat to England, and that it's only Israel's problem, you are sorely mistaken, as the global jihad should make clear. BTW, the Arab nations are the ones trying to get the west to attack Iran. And also the British government is right to call for sanctions against the Iranian terror state.
Would this be an example of how Israelis love to kill muslims? The reality of Israel doesn't comply with your ignorant and hateful remark.
Israel is not the one calling for a destruction of a country. Get your facts straight. If Israel wanted to and maybe will sooner than we think, destroy the nuke sights they do not need any one's o.k.. The world condemned them in the 80's for taking out iraq's nuke sights and I am sure the world quietly thanked and is still thanking them. If Israel did not do so, iraq would have had nukes and not worried about using them on anyone.
I thank Israel for nothing.
Where are the women?
woman dont like there goverment and are afraid to show there pretty faces to the police 70% of Iranians dont care about there religion and like the US its these small group of people you see in these pictures that make are country look bad to the eyes of simple minded Americans and British
I wish the 70% would stand up and overthrow the current government. Yes I know they have tried.
@BIJAN-2398975, That's twice now you've insulted people in America and Britain. Are you starting to see why folks might have a certain perception?
When the American embassy hostages were released after 444 days of captivity, a former Marine guard at the embassy was asked if he ever wanted to go back to Iran again. His reply, "Only in a B-52".
The pictures show that the so-called security really tried hard to stop everyone. I'm suprised that one of the pictures did not show a "security: person carrying loot also!!
Can you really blame the Iranians in their suspicions of motives and integrity with their embassy staffing following the 1953 coup against their elected government all for the sake of same multi-national oil company that completely screwed up the Gulf of Mexico last year?
And... just what sort of implied message are we to gleen from the fact that a ridiculous photo from Pulp Fiction was gracing the walls in a diplomats office?
How concilatory is a diplomat who displays self-promoting pictures depicting a dope-dealer's armed enforcer thugs? How many professional offices would such a display EVER be considered appropriate decoration?
I think I'll put on my Prada loafers, Gucci suit and Rolex watch in case I have to storm an embassy today. This is the softest looking mob I've ever seen. There was more damage done on Black Friday at Best Buy then depicted in these photos. Awesome that the Pulp Fiction poster was too valuable to trash. Why is the smirking cop's POLICE shield written in English? If this is the height of Tehran's intimidation, Iran is in for a thorough ass kicking when English/American boots hit the ground.
If the Evil Empire dares attempt something so gratuitously stupid I hope a ton of blood from camo-bedecked mercenaries is spilled just so I can say to as many idiots as possible, "I told ya so"!
Didn't we hear the same chest beating rhetoric from the mighty Republican Guard? They turned out to be a pathetic band of ill-equipped, under trained and uninspired boy scouts. The Iranians are a noble people but their leadership is a joke.
The bloody toll for Iraq is almost 5,000 and Iran is more than twice as large both in terms of area and population. Ready for another 10-12 thousand coffins? No skin off my back as long except my taxes are pissed away paying for all the stupid funerals as well as the fact far too many of them end up being planted in soil that was originally stolen from the Custis-Lee family as war-spoils.
Never been in the back halls of an embassy before, I take it. Chill out. This was likely taken from an area where the "locals" aren't ever allowed -- and it's Iran for God's sake, who doesn't want to go all PF on them?
I do not understand the mentally of the west. Why insist of having diplomatic ties with a country that does not believe in diplomatic relations. They killed British police person in London years ago, captured British navy personal. I can't imagine if it was the other way around.
The west needs to completely stop trade with Iran, I am well aware that it is a big country 75 million a big land mass andlots of oil. We have to stop using the excuseof "only a few people are involved". It is orchestrated by the regime. Oil will go up by a $1 to $1.50 for 6-12 months and will come down, there are more efficient cars on the road, hybrids and electric... we will survive.
your retarded
That's the pot calling the kettle black! It's you're.
Not all Muslims are irreverent vandals and thieves, just like not all conservative Christians are ignorant trailer-trash who advocate the destruction of all those they do not understand, and/or disagree with.
They're not? The conservitive Christians I mean...
Conservative Christians never advocated any such thing. Can't say the same for the atheist marxist left however.
Conservative Christians like Scott Roeder?
I hope the brits go in 'Navy Seal' like and wreck havoc big time - I hope they ask for and get the assitance of our guys, maybe even the Isralies - but that is just the opinon of a active voting American citizen
As I understood it a foreign embassy is considered sovereign territory of the country who occupies the embassy. Therefore, an attack on an embassy is legally considered an act of war. A military response is considered appropriate.
anyone else notice how old these "Students" look?
I must be a terrible person. In the 2nd picture, the guy on the left wearing glasses. I look at him and I feel nothing but hate in my heart. Just him specifically, no one else in the picture. I don't know this man and I've never met him. I look at him and I despise him. I don't know why.
This looks staged....Were their families threatened if they didn't participate??