Iran slams 'terrorist attack' on embassy

Iran's official news agency, IRNA, described a protest outside the Iranian embassy in Stockholm on Friday as a “terrorist attack" after around 100 protesters stormed the compound and a staff member was injured.

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Iran summoned Swedish Ambassador Magnus Werndstedt following the incident.

"Following the terrorist attack by anti-revolutionary groups on Iran's embassy in Stockholm on Friday, the Swedish ambassador was summoned immediately," the IRNA report said.

The employee, whose nationality was not known, was hurt when protesters entered the compound and attacked him, according to Stockholm police.

He was punched and kicked and received medical attention at the embassy.

The protest outside the Iranian embassy in Stockholm broke out on Friday afternoon. Around 150 demonstrators, some of them wearing masks, began throwing rocks and trying to break into the embassy.

“People were yelling chants and cheers at the Iranian embassy for about an hour, and then about an hour later around 100 of the protesters entered the embassy compound through a gate,” Massood Mafan, a witness at the scene, told news agency TT.

“In the building itself they were stopped by guards.”

Mafan said that he had seen at least three people who were injured, including an older woman who was hit in the back with a nightstick.

The three to four police offers who were initially at the scene couldn't stop the protesters from storming the embassy. Around 20 patrol cars were later dispatched to the scene.

“It was a little chaotic out there. We have had demonstrations there for several days and it has been extremely calm. But (then) they started to put on masks and throw rocks and try to break into the compound,” said Janne Hedlund, commander on duty at the Stockholm police.

By 6:30 pm the situation outside the embassy was calm. Between 150 and 200 people remained outside yelling chants.

“We are here because we demand that Sweden shut down the embassy and suspend all relations with Iran,” Mohammad Mohammad Bagheri, 29, told TT.

Ulf Höglund of the Stockholm police said the number of protesters inside the compound remains unconfirmed. Two people have been arrested on suspicion of vandalism.

According to police, there is no information about injured protesters, but one woman showed bruises she claimed were from a baton.