§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. William Whitelaw)Mr. Speaker, I will, with permission, make a further statement about the events at the Iranian embassy. I undertook yesterday to keep the House informed of developments and it may be convenient if I summarise what has happened so far.
As right hon. and hon. Members will know, yesterday morning at about 11.30 three armed men forced their way into the Iranian embassy at Princes Gate, Knightsbridge. A police constable who was on duty at the embassy was forced inside at gunpoint as a hostage. Two people who work for the BBC were in the embassy at the time and they, too, were taken hostage, together with a locally engaged member of staff and some of the Iranians who work there. In all about 20 people are being held. One woman hostage, an Iranian, was released yesterday and one British hostage was released this morning. Despite reports of injuries to the hostages, I understand that no one has been seriously injured. The terrorists said this morning that the British hostages would not be harmed.
Since the incident first occurred the building has been surrounded by the police, who have cordoned off the area. They have maintained communication with the terrorists and their aim, as in all such cases, is, if it all possible, to bring this incident to a peaceful conclusion without loss of life.
The terrorists have identified themselves as Iranians. They claim to belong to a dissident organisation calling itself " The Group of the Martyr ". They have addressed certain demands to the Government of Iran, including the freeing of 91 people currently imprisoned there. They have also asked the Iranian Government to recognise the rights of the Iranian peoples.
I am naturally keeping in continuous contact with the direction of events by the police. I had a discussion a short time ago with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I will continue to keep the House informed of developments.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesIs the Home Secretary aware that we understand that for 1629 24 hours he will have been in constant involvement in this incident through his overall operational control, that we understand his absence from Question Time, and that we appreciate his statement, limited as it has to be, today? Hon. Members on both sides of the House wish him and the Commissioner well in this difficult, developing situation.
In view of the discussions that are taking place within the embassy—we all realise the difficulties of that—the less said the better at this stage. However, in view of what the media reported about a direct contact from the Iranian Government, I wonder what that is. May not it be salutary for the Iranian Government to realise that we take seriously the need to protect those in diplomatic missions?
There are a number of questions on the law and other matters that I feel inclined to ask, but I shall not do so. I believe that it is best to leave the questioning until later on.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am naturally grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for what he said. I apologise to the House for not having been here at Question Time, but I thought that my duty lay elsewhere at that time. I hope that the House appreciates it.
On the problem of saying very little at this stage, again I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. It is so easy for anyone to say something which could make the task of the police, in their negotiations, more difficult. I am sure that everyone in the House appreciates that point.
As to the messages to the Iranian Government, our ambassador in Tehran has been in touch with the Foreign Minister of the Iranian Government, who is out of Iran at the moment. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a message to the President of Iran, making clear our determination to deal with this matter and to bring the trouble to an end without loss of life.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. It may be the will of the House that we move on at this stage.